Thursday, October 30, 2014

Sanctified Feet



~ 6 Biblical Concepts of Christian Feet ~

A root meaning of the Biblical word “sanctified” is “set apart.”  Are your feet—your actions—set apart for God?  

Feet Placed On Solid Ground (salvation)  ~  I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.  He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.  He has put a new song in my mouth  Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:1-3).

Feet Cleansed By The Word (communion)  ~  “Peter said to Him, ‘You shall never wash my feet!’  Jesus answered him, ‘If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.’  Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!’  Jesus said to him, ‘He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean’” (John 13:8-10a).

Feet Kept By Divine Power (preservation)  ~  “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s, and He has set the world upon them.  He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked shall be silent in darkness” (1 Samuel 2:8-9).

Feet Wearing Footwear of Peace (the Gospel)  ~  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:14-18).

Feet Running With The Gospel (service)  ~  How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach unless they are sent?  As it is written:How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!’” (Romans 10:14-15).

Feet Crushing Satan (victory)  ~  For your obedience has become known to all.  Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.  And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly.  
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen” (Romans 16:19-20).

Are your feet sanctified for the Master’s use?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

God’s Priorities



~ Things of Primary Importance to God ~

Seek First The Kingdom Of God  ~  Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:33-34). 

Clean First That Which Is Inside  ~  Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.  Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also” (Matthew 23:25-26).

First Cast Out The Plank In Your Own Eye  ~  Jesus said, “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye;’ and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3-5).

Learn First To Show Respect At Home  ~  “Honor widows who are really widows.  But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God.  Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.  But she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives.  And these things command, that they may be blameless.  But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever” (1 Timothy 5:3-8).

Judge First The House Of God  ~  For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?  Now, ‘If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?’” (1 Peter 4:17-18).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Christ’s Genealogy



~ One Savior—Two Recorded Genealogies ~

Two of the four Gospels record the genealogy of Jesus Christ—The Messiah.  On the surface they are significantly different but when properly understood they do not disagree with each other (this is very involved and would require a book to explain fully).  In this post we will look at a bird’s eye view of the two genealogy.

Luke 3  ~  Luke’s account is the most complete timeline as it covers 76 generations from Adam to Jesus Christ.  One of the unusual aspects of Luke’s is that it begins at the end—with Jesus Christ—and moves backward in time.  Perhaps this was Dr. Luke’s way of emphasizing Jesus Christ.  The intent of Luke’s Gospel is widely understood to be to give a precise record of Jesus Christ, who lived a perfect life, and is the only acceptable sacrifice for fallen mankind.  With this in mind it is very logical for Luke to record all the way back to the very beginning with Adam as he traces the humanity of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 1  ~  Matthew’s account covers 41 generations as it starts with the patriarch Abraham and moves forward to Jesus Christ—The Messiah.  The most obvious aspect of Matthew’s account is how he divides the generations into three time periods of 14 generations each.  First he lists 14 patriarchs, then 14 kings, and finally 14 ordinary citizens.   Matthew’s intent appears to be an emphasis on the historical progression.  It is widely understood that Matthew writes his Gospel from a Jewish perspective.  Given that reality starting the genealogy of The Messiah with Abraham makes a lot of sense.

the key question: “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).  This is the most important question you will ever answer.  If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

If you found this post personally interesting or helpful, you are welcome to add a link to it on your own blog or website. 

If you would prefer to copy this post, please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight (http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/).