Why am I striving? How is it that we have missed that a Faithful God called us and will do His Work in us and through us? Just look at how the world values success and happiness and strength. The Christian communities do too, in a way, don't they? They believe that if you have 25,000 come to hear you at a conference, you are successful. If you raise $50,000 for missions, that's life. If you have 1 million followers, you have arrived. I differ in theology than most blog writers I read yet they have 5,000 followers and I might have 50. If I asked questions, those in leadership would venture to negate the rest of my life for the lack of success in ministry. Not so! "The world values happiness and strength, but God values grief and weakness.
I Thes 5:23 Now may the God of Peace Himself sanctify you completely ... for He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it. Life here is all about God doing this, not us. Will we let Him have His Own ffI
I'm always looking for a list, a how-to guide, or three secrets to ___ whatever. Well, here it is in today's readings--a short list of some great guidelines to live pleasing the Lord. The Word is Life, isn't it!
ReplyDelete1. Encourage one another and build one another up.
2. Respect those who are over you in the Lord and admonish you
3. and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.
4. Be at peace among yourselves.
5. Admonish the idle
6. Encourage the fainthearted
7. Help the weak
8. Be patient with them all.
9. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil.
10. Always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
11. Rejoice always
12. Pray without ceasing
13. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ
14. Do not quench the Spirit
15. Do not despise prophecies
16. Test everything;
17. Hold fast what is good.
18. Abstain from every form of evil.
And another powerful prayer to pray over those we love:
Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
Annette, love, love your list. Thanks. I really liked that last prayer that you reminded us was in our reading today. It truly is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThe Christian community has so become ensnared with our culture and society that it is often times hard to tell us from "them".We are supposed to be a peculiar people, called into His marvelous light.Way too often we are NOT peculiar enough. Numbers DO NOT equate success, just as a big bank account and a huge salary mean you are a success in the eyes of God. It does in our culture and we have it oh, so wrong. It is not how many read your blog or how many show up for a church service, but how many are dedicated followers of Christ and are sincerely trying to live their lives according to what the Word teaches. We as a Christian community have things so backwards and often times let the world tell us what is successful and what is not!!!
Praying for Chick-Fil-A and praying that the world sees Him tomorrow. The Cathey's did not say they were anti Gay, they said they were pro God. The world has taken it and turned it around. A "few" are making it a crime to be a Christian when you stand on what the Word says, "they" want us to tolerate them but they do not want to tolerate us speaking The Truth. God will win on that Last Day, when they are going about their business and thinking all is right with their world. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that HE is LORD. May we proclaim Him till He comes.
This list maker/lover loves your list Annette.
ReplyDelete