New Year’s Eve 2022

 ~ Plan To Succeed in 2023 ~ 

 

Comment  ~  The wisdom books in the Bible encourage planning. 

 

Scripture  ~  “May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed” (Psalm 20:4). 

 

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (Proverbs 3:6).

 

“The plansof the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful” (Proverbs 12:5).

 

“Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed” (Proverbs 15:22).

 

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed” (Proverbs 16:3).

 

“Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance” (Proverbs 20:18).

 

“The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Bible Version: Quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.  Emphasis is added.

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Divine Openings

 ~ Luke Reports 5 Christ-Related Openings ~

 

Opened Heart (to receive Christ)  ~  “And on the Sabbath day we [Paul, Silas, and Timothy) went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there.  Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us.  She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God.  The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul.  And when she and her household were baptized, she begged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay.’  So she persuaded us” (Acts 16:13-15).  

 

Opened Eyes (to see Christ)  ~  “Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight” (Luke 24:30-31).  

 

Opened Scriptures (to reveal Christ)  ~  The previous paragraph continues:  “Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.  And they said to one another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:30-32).  

 

Opened Understanding (to learn Christ)  ~  “Then He [Jesus Christ] said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’  And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45).  

 

Opened Heavens (to see the victorious Christ)  ~  “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.  But he [Stephen], being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look!  I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’” (Acts 7:54-56).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Contrast, 8

~ Contrast: Against Christ vs. For Christ ~

 

Series Comment ~ The Scripture contains many contrasts.  In this series we look briefly at some of them.  Just like in our “Binary” series many of these contrasts represent a choice of this or that.

 

Scripture 1 ~ “Now Saul [later named Paul] 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.  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.  As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison” (Acts 8:1-3).

 

Scripture 2 ~ “Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.  Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:1-7).

 

Comment  ~  The total change in Saul into the Apostle Paul typifies the change of direction and lifestyle that is available through Jesus Christ. 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW 

 

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Bible Version: Quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.  Emphasis is added.

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Author web page: “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell” http://booksrlr.com/ – 11 national and international book awards.

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·         An INDEX of past topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.

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God Attribute, 49

~ Infinitude ~

 

This Series  ~  This series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God.  Generally, we move in alphabetical order.

 

Introduction  ~  A number two yellow pencil has never created itself or evolved into a pencil!  “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1).  The complexity and vastness of creation is all the proof anyone needs to believe in a Creator. 

 

Scripture  ~  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

 

“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen” (Romans 1:18-25).

 

Comment  ~  Common sense and logical thinking are missing from many in today’s “sophisticated world.”  What about you?  Where did your pencil come from?

 

Quote ~

“He is measureless.  Measurement is the way created things have of accounting for themselves. It describes limitations, imperfections, and cannot apply to God.” —A.W. Tozer

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Bible Version: Quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.  Emphasis is added.

FREE Author Newsletter: Subscribe today and receive a FREE welcome gift followed by occasional news and special offers.  https://www.subscribepage.com/rlr  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way and you can easily unsubscribe at any time. 

Author web page: “Books by Robert Lloyd Russell” http://booksrlr.com/ – 11 national and international book awards.

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·         An INDEX of past topics is accessed by scrolling down the left column.

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