God says, "Be Holy"

God says, "Be Holy". 1 Peter 1:13-16, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 5:26, Phillipians 4:8,

The word holiness means to be "separate" or "distinctive." In other words, our lifestyle should be different from those around us who have not trusted Christ as their Savior.

So, how do we achieve that? Let's see what God's Word says.

Receive

"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:13-16).

• According to verse 13, where does holiness begin?
• As holy people, what are we to look forward to?
• What should we avoid?
• What is our motivation for holiness?

Reflect

We often think of holiness in terms of what we do, but it begins before we take any sort of action. Peter says it starts with our minds. Verse 13 says we are to "gird up the loins" of our mind. This expression refers to the clothing worn in biblical times. Both men and women wore tunics (the men's tunic usually reached to their knees, the women's to their ankles). A girdle was also worn around the waist to hold the tunic against the body. When working in the fields or needing to move quickly, a man would tuck the hem of his tunic into his girdle to give more freedom of movement. This was called "girding up" the loins.

Peter says we must be prepared in our minds for the work of being holy. The apostle Paul describes it as a "renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). This comes about as we allow our minds to be "washed by the Word" (Ephesians 5:26). Spending time in God's Word creates a renewed mind that is ready for the challenge of holy living.

Respond

This week, take special note of what you are allowing your mind to dwell on. Memorize Philippians 4:8: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." Let holiness begin in your mind and work its way out through your actions.

Back to the Bible Study


My Comments: Often when one hears the word Holy they think of some angelic being or person. That is not what God is referring to. Our Lord wants us to be His people set apart to do His works thereby showing the world His face, behaviors and love.
We accomplish this by reflecting on Him, His life and death, His word, all things good and "Holy". When we read His word we understand what it is He wants us to look like or become in our thoughts, words and deeds.
If we met someone and did not talk with them or ask them questions or listen to their ideas then we would never be able to say we really knew them. We could say maybe that we met them yet not that we knew them or understood them. The same is true when we come to know the Lord. We do not really know Him or understand Him or even know what He wants of us if we do not study His word.
In studying His word we become one with Him in knowledge and understanding. He grows in us as we grow in His word in us. We become washed in His word, filled with the understanding of His knowledge, wisdom and love.
Let me put it another way. If one were to fall in love and never talk to or learn about the one they were in love with then we know they are just "in love with an idea." Once we fall in love with someone we study them. We want to please them. We find out everything we can about them, their likes and dislikes, their heart for things and then we do what we can to show them how much we love them. The same is true when we accept Jesus as our Savior. We read and study His word the whole word of God, the Bible, to find out the mind of God. To know the one we come to love more and more as we study His word and how much He loves and always has loved us and always will love us. It is all contained in His word.
When we study His word we grow and the more we grow and become more like Him the more we become "set apart". Set apart from the things of the world that pull us away from Him. No matter where we live on planet earth there are things, ideas, ways of life that try to pull us away from the truth and love of the Lord. Yet the more we stay strong in His word, take it to heart, ponder it and let it become one with us, the more we are "set apart". Set apart to do good works in His name. Set apart to show the world His face. Set apart to be His hands and feet. Set apart to be one with Him, to be Holy as He is Holy.
Abba Father may we all read Your word and ponder the meaning and understanding of Your word so we will become Holy and set apart to do Your good words in Jesus Name, Amen

Update

Update on my new life.
Since my loving husband has gone on to heaven before me I have had to readjust my life as anyone would have to do. I have decided to remain where I am renting for the time being as emotionally it is more than I feel up to though if the Lord made it clear to me that I was to move I would. He has not so I will remain and just try and straighten out other things that are going on in my life at this time.

With the Thanksgiving holiday over and heading into the Christmas holiday I feel I am getting a small handle on how to live again as a single person even though it has been a great many years since I was one and I never was single on my own so it is a very new experience. The last time I was out of my parents home I was not alone because I had been married and my first husband left me with 5 children to raise on my own. So I was not alone and this time I am physically alone yet I have the Lord and I stand on Isiah 54 more and more everyday. The Lord is my husband now and He will take care of His bride. I will rely on Him for everything and everyday teaches me more and more how that looks. The church is His Bride and as a body we have to rely on Him for everything.

Before my husband passed on he and I were learning this marvelous truth more and more yet learning it as a single person is even harder. When he was alive I know now I relied on him alot and then on the Lord. Now I have to rely on the Lord first to get through each day though I am blessed to have a wonderful blessing of a great church family who call and surround me with love and help as needed. Praise God for His provision!

Thank you all for you prayers and if I can pray for you please let me know. rebishka57@gmail.com or comment on this blog. May the Lord bless you all. Amen

Mercy

Mercy. Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV), romans 8:1 (NKJV), Psalms 103:12 (NASB), Jeremiah 31:34 (NLT), Psalms 103:10/11 (NLT)
 
Napoleon was once asked to pardon a woman's son. He responded that the boy had committed an offense and that justice must be served. The woman's son would die.

"But I don't ask for justice," the mother cried. "I beg for mercy."

"Your son doesn't deserve mercy," Napoleon responded.

"Sir," the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and I ask for mercy."

"Well, then," the emperor said, "I will give mercy." And he spared the woman's son.

"Saved by Mercy" is the title of today's study. So, let's see what the Bible says about God's mercy:

Receive

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5, ESV).

1. We've been saved by what?
2. How does that fit with mercy?
3. Why does God have mercy on His children?
4. What does God's mercy mean to you?

Reflect

Understanding how you are saved by mercy means grasping what it is to be completely and totally forgiven of all your sins--past and present and future. It also means that we will hear God pronounce the following verdict:

"T here is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8:1, NKJV).

Check out these Scriptures to understand more about the breadth and depth of saving mercy.

"As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us" (Psalm 103:12, NASB).

Did you ever wonder why the Bible does not say "as far as the north is from the south?" Because if you go south at one point you will cross the South Pole and then you will be heading north. North and south meet at the poles. But if you go east, you can travel for a million billion years, and you will never touch west.

"And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins" (Jeremiah 31:34, NLT).

If all your sins and transgressions have been separated as far as the east is from the west, if God remembers them no more, then you have been saved by mercy and your sins are gone, gone, gone--completely, totally and forever. Now, that's the richness of God's mercy in Christ!

Respond

Read the following description of "saved by mercy" and let it guide your heart in expressing your gratitude, praise and awe to your Savior and God.

"He does not punish us for all our sins;
he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth" (Psalm 103:10-11 NLT).
Back To the Bible
David McGee

My Comments: There isn't anything I could offer that would add to what Pastor McGee has pointed out. I would only encourage all who have never taken a look at the saving grace of Jesus Christ and His Gospel, that they would read the stories and comments of Jesus Himself. Start with John the read the whole New Testament then when you have accepted the Lord Jesus as your Lord and Savior go to the Old Testament and seek Him in the full word of God because friends He is through out the whole word of God!

After one has received the righteousness and covering of Jesus then we do things to build up our treasures in heaven because treasures here mean noting but treasures in heaven are forever. Not that we can do anything to be anymore saved yet we can lay up treasures in heaven and they are not like what we would think of as treasures here. We find great joy in doing things for others not because of the treasures in heaven but because we become more and more like Jesus and He was about helping others. And is about helping others so the more we become like Him the more we like helping others. Especially helping others to know Jesus so they will be saved as well. It is not a gift we hide but a gift we share so more  and more come to the saving grace of the Gospel of Jesus the Christ the Son of God. If we had not accepted His saving grace we would have chosen hell. That is what it means to not accept His generous loving offer of life eternal.
Often I hear people say, "My relative went to heaven." I say were they Christs? "No." they say. Then that person has chosen to go to hell because they rejected the one who went to the Cross so they might live forever. I find this very sad. there are many who do not understand. Do you? I hope so. I hope all who read this blog will turn to Jesus and ask forgiveness of their sin and accept His saving grace. He has paid the penalty but it is not ours unless we accept it. So easy yet so many are not going to heaven because they do not do it.
Abba, I thank you for Your gift of Your Son Jesus and His sacrifice on the Cross. Jesus, I thank You for Your gift of dieing on the Cross and becoming sin for me. Holy Spirit thank You for giving me understanding and teaching truths, wisdom and discernment. Abba Father make me more like Jesus everyday and help me to understand Your word more fully and especially as it pertains to the Lord Jesus and His coming. Help all who come to this blog to know and understand their need for Your Son Jesus' sacrifice and help them to accept His sacrifice for their sin. In Jesus Name, Amen
Rebishka

Be Vessels of Living Water

John 4:10, New King James Version Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Jesus answered and said to her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water."
NKJV

1 Corinthians 12:13, (NKJV)

13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Acts 16:30-34, (NKJV)

30 And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

Matthew 28:19,(NKJV)

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

John 3:1-21New King James Version (NKJV)

3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

John 7:37-38, (NKJV)

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”

John 4:13-14, (NKJV)

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

John 6:45-51, (NKJV)

45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

My Comments: All I can say is Amen, Amen, Amen!!! There are so many in my family who do not believe in the saving grace of Jesus nor do they believe He even existed. Do you? One of my sons was hurting so much after his Dad passed in October 2012. He did not have the anchor or steady rock to stand on of Jesus the Christ. In fact even now he is positive I believe in a myth or just believe because I was "raised to believe that way."  Yet I was not raised in a church that knew to accept Jesus by actually saying it out loud (they did believe in confession of sin but not actually asking Jesus to accept them). They unfortunately believed that when a child or person of any age is Baptized that that is their rebirth. That is not what Christ was talking about when He said to Nicodemus that one must be Born Again. To be Born Again, we ask Jesus to be our Savior, confess our sin to Him then He comes into us with His living water and we are Born Again. We are not Born Again in Baptism.  When we are Baptized (when we are old enough to understand the significance of it) it is an outward declaration of an inward change in belief. It is when we share with others we are of the body and will be walking with Jesus to bring honor and glory to the Father. We are not saved by Baptism, we are however saved by Jesus after we accept His free gift of life and we give ourselves to Him. I had thought I knew I was saved all my life because I was Baptized at 40 days old (the tradition of the Church I grew up in). Many believe things like "Infant Baptism," and "Baptism saves," "Baptism for others dead or alive saves them" that just are not in the Bible. They are totally unbiblical and false teachings and beliefs. I had read my Bible yet did not understand what I was reading when I was a young lady and when I grew up I just did not know the importance of reading the word of God. I am so thankful to God He did not allow me to die when danger came into my life. He gave me time so I could learn the truth and receive His forgiveness, righteousness and be filled with His Living water and His Holy Spirit. I feel the quickening in my spirit to share the Good News with people and be a light where the Lord takes me so the Living Water He fills me with will flow freely to those He brings me into contact with. The amazing thing about salvation is it is offered to everyone because Christ died for everyone's sin. He did not just die for the "good people" who have ever lived or are living and will live (because God says "none are good except the Father." He died for all mankind. He died for the homeless, the robber, even the murderer. He died to save the head of companies and the worker. He died for the prostitute and even the pimp. He died for the bully and the adulterer, the fornicator and sexual perverts of all kinds as well as the every day person who thinks of themselves as "good people" but Christ said none but the Father is good so we all need redemption. We all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We all need a Savior. And there is only one Savior and His name is Jesus and He is the Son of God and the second person of the Holy Trinity who willingly went to the cross to die for all mankind's sin. Unfortunately some will choose hell rather than accept the truth of Jesus and accept the salvation He offers them. God does not condemn them to Hell they choose it by rejecting Him. those who believe and are Born Again have chosen to live forever with Him in Heaven. Have you? Will you? If so I will see you there. Abba Father, may all accept Your special and freely given free gift of salvation. Help us to share Your gift with others. Make of us rivers of flowing Living Waters so many will hear and receive Your Word of salvation and be filled with Your Holy Spirit. We praise and glorify your Holy and precious names Father and pray we will bring honor and glory to Your Holy Name. Lord Jesus, may You shine through us to a weary world. Flow through us to a world without true water and without the bread of life. May I be Your servant and have Your servants heart in my thoughts, actions and interactions. Thank You Messiah for giving so freely of Yourself and showing us the way and buying our freedom from sin. Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with the desires of Abba Father and our mouths with the Words of Jesus. Fill us with wisdom and understanding and the Knowledge of the Word of God. In Jesus name in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen. In Jesus Name. Amen Rebishka PS: I would love to hear what you are reading in the Bible or would like to discuss in the Word of God.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit

Be filled with the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:7,  Acts 2:3, 4, 11, 26, 10:46, 19:6, 1 Corinthians 12:10, 12:30, 14:2-39, Philippians 2:11.

 

1 Corinthians 12:7

"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:"
NKJV

Can you imagine what it might have been like on the Day of Pentecost? Hearing a rushing wind, you look around to see tongues of fire upon each person assembled with you. Then as soon as you're filled with God's Spirit you begin speaking in other languages. As incredible as it all sounds, imagine what it might have been like hours before. Many of these men and women had seen or heard Jesus and knew of His resurrection. They also were aware of His great commission and were probably wondering how in the world they were supposed to go into all the world and share the Gospel. After all, they were a small group and it was a big world.

The good news is that God did not leave them there to strive in vain. They were not going to have to rely on their own strength to accomplish what Jesus had instructed them to do. In obedience to Christ, those men and women waited for the Helper, who came to them in power. Friend, that same Helper is available to you today. He is the Holy Spirit. When we ask Him to fill us with His Spirit, He will. Without Him, we'll find our efforts fall short, but when we are filled with His power, our lives can change the world.

Life Lesson: We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit to be witnesses, spread the Word and do the work of the ministry.

Dear God,
Thank You for Jesus and the forgiveness of sins. I also thank You for the Helper Whom You have sent to equip me. Lord, today I pray that You would fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can be strengthened and empowered to serve You. Give me an opportunity to share Your love and Your Word with this hurting world. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say, Pastor David McGee   My Comments: I remember a few days after I asked Jesus to be the Lord of my life, I was listening to a TV evangelist (not something I did very often and still do not like to as most are just out for money) and there was a number on the bottom of the screen saying, "If you want to receive the Holy Spirit and speak in tongues then call this number..."  So not knowing any better, I did. I did not know that when I asked Jesus to make me His that I had received the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues was a gift only God gives. We do not cause it to happen and if something happens after that type of pushing to the Lord, we are not receiving a gift from the Lord. And if not from the Lord who is it from? Read the story of the filling of the Holy Spirit as the Apostles and others waited on the Lord to send His Spirit. They did not pray for a filling, they did not even ask for it. They prayed for God's will and they waited as the Lord had told them to do. We pray and wait on His will and received His gifts when He chooses and we use them as He determines.   We are all filled with His Spirit when we accept the free gift of righteousness from our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Then the Spirit teaches us and guides us. He fills us with whatever gifts we need to fulfill our purpose which God the Father has determined is our purpose. And that purpose when we are fulfilling it will glorify God and help others in their walk with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Here are some verses you might enjoy reading:  Acts 2:3, 4, 11, 26, 10:46, 19:6, 1 Corinthians12:10, 12:30, 14:2-39, Philippians 2:11. These all speak to what we have been talking about and if you haven't read them before they will edify your mind and bring understanding to your heart. Hopefully they will bring a peace to you as well. Abba Father, we come before You with prayer and supplication for Your will and understanding for our hearts and minds. May we be filled with the gifts You determine we should have.  Guide us, through Your Holy Spirit, so we use the gifts You gift us with for Your purpose, glory and honor. Thank You Abba Father for whatever gifts You have given us. We praise You and glorify Your Holy names. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. You have saved us and that gives us complete joy even in the hard times that do and will come into our lives. May we be a blessing to others and live our lives to glorify You. In Jesus name. Amen Rebishka

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. Psalms 14:26-2, 25:14, 31:19, 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, Isiah 33:6, Hebrews 12:28

Psalms 14:26/27
26 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.

Psalms 25:14
14The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.

Psalms 31:19
19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!

Psalms 111:10  
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Proverbs 1:7
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction

Isiah 33:6
6and he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is Zion's treasure.

Hebrews 12:28
28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.

My Comments: When I was a little girl of about 6 or 7 years of age, I remember waking up in the middle of the night and looking for my parents. I had had a bad dream. They were nowhere to be found and the front door was wide open in our Quonset hut home. Out the door I saw a fire lighting up the dark sky and I don't know if I feared because Mom and Dad weren't there or because there was a fire and I had always been taught to have a healthy fear of fire. A healthy respect of it and what it could do to me if I touched it. They had seen it and gone to help but it turned out neighbors were just burning off timber from their land in order to build. Fire where I came from was used to heat and if it got out of hand would kill or destroy property so we were raised to use it carefully.

When I first accepted the Lord as my Savior and heard people talking about fear of the Lord I thought of fear as I did fire. If one got to close it would destroy or harm one. I did not understand how the one I loved so much was to feared. I wanted to be close to Him, to have Him close to me. I had fallen in Love with he Lord God of the Universe and I never wanted to be separated from Him. How could I reconcile my desire to be so intimate with Him and yet fear Him?

There are an extreme amount of Scripture verses about fearing the Lord yet when one studies them we find the fear of the Lord in the Bible was not the fear as one fears fire. It is the fear or reverence of loving so completely one wants to do everything to please the one loved. When we fall in love with someone we do not want to cause them pain or displeasure. We want to bring them joy and do everything to show them how much we love them. How much more should we show this love to the God who created us, who sent His Son to be our Salvation, who sacrificed Himself?

When we drink in the Lord we are never thirsty nor do we hunger when fed on the nourishment of His word. The more we fellowship with the Lord and are fed in His word the more we reverence Him and are thankful for all He has done for us. For those of us who love Him the fear we experience is not the fear as the fear when one is afraid of going close to the fire but rather the fear of the Lord is one of reverencing the one and only true God. It is knowing He gives us knowledge, understanding, wisdom, goodness, and refuge from all the storms of life. We lack for nothing when we accept the free gift of righteousness offered to us from the gift Jesus gave us when He freely went to the Cross in our place. It is knowing we shall not perish though our bodies pass to the grave our souls will live forever with the Lord. John 3:16 says 16 "For God so loved the world,that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. So fear the Lord and live.

Abba Father, we come before You knowing only You can save us from eternal death and You chose to do that through the sacrifice of Your Son Jesus on the Cross. We praise You for sending Your Son to die in our place and thank You for the pain it caused You to allow Him to be sacrificed in our place. You alone are the lover of our souls and You alone want the best for us. May we ever be thine and seek to please You in all we think, say and do. May we never be found lacking in reverence and awe of you. Thank You for coming to earth Jesus and paying it all on the Cross. All to You we owe. May our lives bring You honor and praise. Holy Spirit, You are our comforter and our strength, in You we find wisdom and understanding, with You we live forever. How great and awesome are You, oh God. Thank You for all You do for us and for our lives. Thanks You for our salvation. Help us to live our lives to glorify You. In Jesus name in union with the Holy Spirit we pray. Amen
Rebishka

Choose life

Choose life. Deuteronomy 30:19/20
19"...Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."  
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

John 3:3

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

John 3:7

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

In Context | Full Chapter | Other Translations

1 Peter 1:23

having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

   



MyComments: Today (this is updated yet wanted to leave in the birth as it is pertinent to the writing at this time) my 9th Great Grand child is struggling to come out and live in this world. We all at one point struggled to come out into this world, to live. Why is it we struggled so hard to be born through our Mothers and we do not always accept the free gift of real life that lasts an eternity with the God of the Universe?

To be born through our Mothers takes time usually. And it usually takes struggle and pain. Yet the gift of Jesus is without pain, without suffering, without any struggle (except maybe the internal struggle one goes through before accepting the freely given gift of salvation) and it doesn't take anymore time than it takes to say, "Yes!"

Being born here usually is work at least for most Mom's and often the baby as well. Being born into the family of God doesn't take any work. We can't "do" anything except accept the righteousness our Lord obtained by what He did. He went to the cross willingly to suffer and die so we could have the free gift of salvation.

In Deuteronomy the Lord is talking to the Israelites specifically, yet we know the whole Bible is for all of His people. Even those of us who have been adopted and because we have been adopted by the Lord all of His commandments apply to us (this is not replacement theology which is wrong). Now if we were in the Old Testament times we would have a very hard impossible time of trying to keep all the Commandments God gave the people through Moses (and those who say they follow the Ten Commandments today have the same problem as no one can keep them completely or perfectly so all sin). Now those of us who came after the Lord Jesus' Crucifixion no longer are under the law of Moses. Jesus gave us two commands. Love God and Love our neighbor. On those two all the Commandments rest.

In other words those two commands cover everything else one could think of. Jesus took our sin to Himself and when we accept His righteousness we have life with Him in us. Then we become God's adopted children. At that time we can choose to work to bring glory to God our Father or be lazy (there are many verses in the Bible about being lazy) and never grow as a person in relationship with Abba our Father. In the new Testament you will find places where it talks about the maturity we should have as followers of Christ. Some were told they were babies, some were told they would be given milk not meat to eat.

My Grandson will drink his Mama's milk (some get their milk in a bottle but it is still milk) then when he gets older he will eat from the table. We have the choice of feeding on the Word of God and building a strong relationship and becoming mature in our relationship. Those who mature are working in the fields, they are the ones in Ministry and are the hands and feet of the Lord God, they live on and in the Word of God and they feed others the Word. They are Holy (set apart) as the Lord is Holy, they are servants with servant hearts and do all they can in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet one cannot get to maturity unless one is Born Again, feeds on the Word and grows.

Abba Father, Thank You for all You are, have and will do for us. Thank You for making us a part of Your family and help us to give up our childish ways of selfishness and laziness. Strengthen us in Your word and Your ways that when we get to heaven You will say, "Well done good and faithful servant." Guide us Abba as we increase in our knowledge and understanding of all You have for us to learn in reading and living Your word. Give us discernment on what You are saying to us and give us Your heart for those who are babies in the faith that we will help them as they go from drinking milk to eating meat, as they go from taking baby steps to running the race You have set before them to bring You glory and praise. In Jesus Name in union with the Holy Spirit, Amen.
Rebishka

God's Love is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Genesis 26:9, New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

⁹ Then Abimelech called Isaac and said, “Quite obviously she is your wife; so how could you say, ‘She is my sister’?”

Isaac said to him, “Because I said, ‘Lest I die on account of her.’”

Genesis 9:20-28, (NKJV)

²⁰ And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard. ²¹ Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent. ²² And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside. ²³ But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned away, and they did not see their father’s nakedness.

²⁴ So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. ²⁵ Then he said:

“Cursed be Canaan;
A servant of servants
He shall be to his brethren.”

²⁶ And he said:

“Blessed be the Lord,
The God of Shem,
And may Canaan be his servant.
²⁷ May God enlarge Japheth,
And may he dwell in the tents of Shem;
And may Canaan be his servant.”

²⁸ And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.

Exodus 32:19, (NKJV)

¹⁹ So it was, as soon as he came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing. So Moses’ anger became hot, and he cast the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the foot of the mountain.

Acts 8:1-3, (NKJV)

8 Now Saul was consenting to his death. At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. ² And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. ³ As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

1 John 4:7-12, (NKJV)

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. ⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ⁹ In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

2 Samuel 11, (NKJV)

11 It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. ² Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. ³ So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, “Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” ⁴ Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house. ⁵ And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, “I am with child.” ⁶ Then David sent to Joab, saying, “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” And Joab sent Uriah to David. ⁷ When Uriah had come to him, David asked how Joab was doing, and how the people were doing, and how the war prospered. ⁸ And David said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” So Uriah departed from the king’s house, and a gift of food from the king followed him. ⁹ But Uriah slept at the door of the king’s house with all the servants of his lord, and did not go down to his house. ¹⁰ So when they told David, saying, “Uriah did not go down to his house,” David said to Uriah, “Did you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?” ¹¹ And Uriah said to David, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord are encamped in the open fields. Shall I then go to my house to eat and drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing.” ¹² Then David said to Uriah, “Wait here today also, and tomorrow I will let you depart.” So Uriah remained in Jerusalem that day and the next. ¹³ Now when David called him, he ate and drank before him; and he made him drunk. And at evening he went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his lord, but he did not go down to his house. ¹⁴ In the morning it happened that David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it by the hand of Uriah. ¹⁵ And he wrote in the letter, saying, “Set Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retreat from him, that he may be struck down and die.” ¹⁶ So it was, while Joab besieged the city, that he assigned Uriah to a place where he knew there were valiant men. ¹⁷ Then the men of the city came out and fought with Joab. And some of the people of the servants of David fell; and Uriah the Hittite died also. ¹⁸ Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war, ¹⁹ and charged the messenger, saying, “When you have finished telling the matters of the war to the king, ²⁰ if it happens that the king’s wrath rises, and he says to you: ‘Why did you approach so near to the city when you fought? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall? ²¹ Who struck Abimelech the son of Jerubbesheth? Was it not a woman who cast a piece of a millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you go near the wall?’—then you shall say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.’” ²² So the messenger went, and came and told David all that Joab had sent by him. ²³ And the messenger said to David, “Surely the men prevailed against us and came out to us in the field; then we drove them back as far as the entrance of the gate. ²⁴ The archers shot from the wall at your servants; and some of the king’s servants are dead, and your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.” ²⁵ Then David said to the messenger, “Thus you shall say to Joab: ‘Do not let this thing displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city, and overthrow it.’ So encourage him.” ²⁶ When the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she mourned for her husband. ²⁷ And when her mourning was over, David sent and brought her to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord.

John 18:25, (NKJV)

²⁵ Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?”

He denied it and said, “I am not!”

Romans 5:8, (NKJV)

⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

John 3:16, (NKJV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

1 Corinthians 15:3, (NKJV)

³ For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

2 Corinthians 5:19, (NKJV)

¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Colossians 2:13, (NKJV)

¹³ And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

Hebrews 8:12, (NKJV)

¹² For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

Hebrews 10:12, (NKJV)

¹² But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,

1 Peter 2:24, (NKJV)

²⁴ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

1 John 1:9, (NKJV)

⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Revelation 1:5, (NKJV)

⁵ and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,

John wrote, "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:9-10, English Standard Version).

My comments: Continually in the lives of those in the Bible we see God continuing to show His never ending love. He does not show by His love and forgiveness that He is saying our sin is okay with Him. He is just showing His love and mercy are always there for us if we accept it. He says this in many ways to each and everyone of us yet especially in sending His Son to be born a man and to die for us on the Cross. And He did this because without doing it we would be lost because the sacrifice of bulls, goats and doves will not cleanse us and allow us to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. The verses show many kinds of sin that He died for and they are only a sampling of the sin of the world He came to save as a babe in a manager and as the sacrifice on the Cross once and for all for always.

I am ever humbled that God the Father would love me so much and do so much for me especially sacrificing Himself and His Son to save me. All I had to do was realize His gift was freely given and accept it and then I was reborn into the family of our Lord Jesus and my Daddy (or Abba) is God the Father. This is the same free gift He offers to "All" no matter what any have done. Then when we have this beautiful gift we do what we can to please Him because we love Him and when one loves another one does everything they can to please the one they love.

Just to clarify some of the sins of the ones God loved so much, David used his power to seduce a married woman (adultery) and then had her husband killed to cover up the pregnancy, Abraham lied and did not trust God to take care of him, Isaac lied, Sarah had Abraham commit adultery with another women and he accepted, Noah got drunk, Moses had anger issues and even destroyed God's handiwork (the Tablets containing the Ten Commandments, Peter denied Jesus more than once, Paul killed and condoned the killing of Christians, yet they all confessed their sin and turned to God for forgiveness and were forgiven. No matter what your sin is Jesus went to the Cross for your redemption and all you have to do is confess your sin and ask Him in to dwell with you and you will be a new creature in Christ and the Child of God.

Abba Father, we praise and glorify Your Holy and wondrous Name. Thank You for sending the most wondrous of gifts to this world of sinners, Your only begotten Son, Jesus the Christ. You are so gracious and loving and You love us more than we could ever know or understand. Strengthen us in Your truths and grow us so we live our lives pleasing and honoring to You. Keep us steeped in Your Word and give us a thirst for the Words in the Bible that we will give a good answer for what and why we believe. Help us to know Your thoughts and hold Your words dear to our hearts. 

Lord Jesus thank You for coming to earth and taking on human flesh, thank you for allowing Yourself to suffer temptations and for showing us how to reject sin and follow You. Thank You for dieing for us on the Cross so we may be with You in Heaven.

Holy Spirit, thank You for filling us with the wondrous knowledge and understanding of Jesus the Christ and all the mysteries in the Word of God. Open the Word to our minds and our hearts and help us to be more like Jesus in all our thoughts, words and deeds.

In Jesus name in union with the Holy Spirit I pray. Amen

Rebishka