s
“Who
gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14; KJV).
I
just want to focus on the second half of that verse; the importance of being
enthusiastic about doing good deeds.
The
most important part of being a Christian is definitely spending time with God.
However, it doesn’t end there; good deeds are important. “Let your light so
shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father
which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16).
Remember
that Jesus: “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the
devil” (Acts 10:38). He didn’t just heal the sick but he also went around doing
good, we often tend to forget that. Kindness is really the practical out
working of goodness.
The
apostle James taught us that faith without works is dead, that we shouldn’t
just pray for someone’s situation but do something to help (James 2:14-17). Let’s look for opportunities to do random acts
of kindness today and be a blessing to someone.
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book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to
others.
“Who hath delivered us from the power of
darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we
have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” (Col 1:13-14;
KJV).
Jesus
told Nicodemus the Pharisee that he needed to be born again; he needed a
spiritual rebirth or salvation as we often refer to it (John 3:3-5). Salvation
only comes through Jesus (Acts 3:12). We know that if we believe in Christ and
ask him into our life as Lord and Savior; confess him as Lord with our mouths,
we will be saved (Rom 10:9-10).
However,
going back to our text above, we need to get into the bible and see just what
happened when we were saved. We need to be discipled in a bible believing
church and grow in all God has for us. Our text gives us a small glimpse of
what God has for us as Christians. It says we have been taken out from under
the devil’s power and control and placed in Gods kingdom of light. Satan may
still try to tempt and trip us but as we keep our eyes on Jesus, on the word of
God, we can walk in the victory we have in Christ.
In
our verse above we are also told that we have redemption. The bible says we
have been redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13). Redeemed means to be
bought at a price; the price was Jesus’ death on that cross. The curses of the
law are listed in Deuteronomy 28 and can be summarized as poverty, sickness and
spiritual death. In Galatians 3:13 we are told that we are redeemed to receive
the blessings of God.
Our
original text above also tells us that we have been forgiven. We are forgiven
freely by God’s grace from sins past present and future. In fact, our sins have
been cast as far from us as the east in from the west (Ps 103:12). Satan may
try to remind us of bad things we have done but we need to remind him of God’s
love and forgiveness for us.
There
is so much we have in salvation; we have just mentioned a few points here. Dig
into your bible and discover God’s love and blessings for you. His promises are
all yes and amen (2 Cor 1:20).
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this helped you please send it to a friend. All rights reserved.
Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our
book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to
others.
“But
the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the
perfect day” (Prov. 4:18; KJV).
If
the path ahead of you doesn’t seem very bright at the moment, be encouraged by
this verse which says it WILL get brighter and brighter. In addition, in
Proverbs 13:9 we are told that the light within the righteous brightens ours
faces. So, not only will your path get brighter but so will you.
We
also see this in the New Testament in Philippians 2:15. We are told that we
shine as bright lights in this wicked world. Jesus is the light and we have him
in us, he is our light (John 17:23; John 8:12). Jesus taught that we are not to
hide our light but let it shine, just like you would not switch a flash light
on and then hide it in a box (Matt 5:15)!
We
have opportunities to let our light shine wherever we find ourselves, whether
it be at work, in the neighborhood or in the marketplace. So, let your light
shine today (Matt 5:16) and make a difference in someone's life (Acts 13:47).
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pass this on. All rights reserved.
Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our
book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and
also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to
others.
“Because
he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on
high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer
him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honor him. With
long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation" (Ps 91:14-16; KJV).
The
whole of Psalm 91 is wonderful but I love these last 3 verses. God will deliver
us, set us on high, answer us, be with us in trouble, give us long life, save
us and never forsake us.
However,
I believe we have a part to play. What is our job? We need to show God how much
we love him and make him the first priority in our lives, ahead of everything
and everyone else. Our God is a jealous God (Ex 20:5; 2 Cor 11:2). We need to
get to know him, his character, nature and power and understand how much he
loves us. We should learn to truly appreciate all his blessings.
How
do we do that? If God is our first priority, then that priority needs to have corresponding
actions. Marriage without relationship is dead as is faith without action and confession
(Mark 11:22-23). Making God number one must reflect in quality time spent with
him; time in prayer and the word as well as just fellowship with him. Try it,
it’s wonderful.
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Jesus
loves you, those 3 little words often glibly roll off people’s tongues without
thinking about it. However, the love of God bears thinking about. In 1 John
chapter 4 (KJV) we can learn a lot about God’s love. In verse 10 we read,
" Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his
Son to be the propitiation for our sins"; now that is love. Propitiation
simply means that Christ’s sacrifice won God’s mercy for us.
In verse
16 the apostle John wrote: “And we have known and believed the love that God
hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God
in him”. We can know, experience and believe God’s love for us. It also says if
we continue in love, God dwells in us and we in God. That’s a great place to
live.
If
we truly love God, we will love one another (1 John 4:20). As we dwell in God
and he in us, we have his perfect love in us (1 John 4 :16-17) and that perfect
love drives out all fear from within us (1 John 4:18)
We
really need a revelation of God’s great love for us - it doesn’t just come from
a quick read through of this chapter but by meditating on it and confessing it until,
we know that we know that we know, God loves us. Once we have that revelation,
we will be able to share it with others (1 John 4:7).
Please
pass this on. All rights reserved.
Check
out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way:
Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more
encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.