Lifestyle Choice

~ Choose Your Lifestyle ~

The Word of God describes our former lifestyle—without Christ.

In God’s Eyes Our Former Lifestyle Was Corrupt and Deceitful  ~  “But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:  that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:20-24). 

In God’s Eyes It Was Deteriorating  ~  “You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19).  

In God’s Eyes It Was Filthy  ~  “Oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked” (2 Peter 2:7b).

Fortunately, the Word of God also describes our new lifestyle—with Christ as our Savior.

It Is a Changed Lifestyle  ~  “The purity and reverence of your lives” (1 Peter 3:2b). 

It Consists Of Honest Dealings With Others  ~  “Conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12). 

It Produces a Good Reputation and Witness In The World  ~  “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.  For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil” (1 Peter 3:15-17).

God’s Eyes and Ears Are Directed Our Way As We Live Our New Life  ~  “Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.  For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers” (1 Peter 3:11-12a). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Christ in 1 Chronicles

~ Jesus Christ is The Reigning King ~

The Bible is about Jesus Christ  ~  “Jesus said to them, ‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

In 1 Chronicles Jesus Christ is the sovereign reigning King.  Jesus Christ is closely linked throughout Scripture to King David.  As David planned for the physical temple and for those who served in it, in a much greater way Jesus Christ made provision for the temple which was not to be made with hands.

“And He Himself [Jesus Christ] gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:11-16). 

Comment  ~  We have only touched the surface of Christ in 1 Chronicles.  

The Apostle Paul told us the Scriptures present many shadows of things to come but the reality is found in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:17). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “JESUS CHRIST IN EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE” SERIES ~~~   

(1)  Approximately once a month ALN posts an overview of how Jesus Christ is seen in a specific book of the Bible.

(2)  In most cases these posts only scratch the surface regarding Jesus Christ in the particular book.

(3)  These posts will typically be in the same order as the books are found in the Bible.

(4)  These serial posts are in addition to our other ALN postings.

(5)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 133

~ Messiah Would Bring Peace ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

The Messiah 

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:14-18). 

The Future Complete Fulfillment

“He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. For all people walk each in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever” (Micah 4:3-5).

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them” (Isaiah 11:6).

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

“A Remarkable Work”

~ Book Review of “God Light” by Writer’s Digest ~

Reproduced immediately below is one of the independent book reviews “God Light” has received.

21st Annual Writer’s Digest Annual Self-Published Book Awards

Entry Title:  GODLIGHT: Sunlight Sonlight

Author:  Robert Lloyd Russell

Judge Number:  23

Entry Category:  Inspirational

Books are evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning “needs improvement” and 5 meaning “outstanding.”  

Structure and Organization:  5

Grammar:  5

Production Quality and Cover Design:  5

Judges Commentary:

The author has identified and written on an aspect of God, the Bible and faith that is rarely a focal point, and

he has come up with a remarkable work that captures the many, many parallels between what sunlight does for the physical world and what Sonlight (Godlight) does for our spiritual selves. 

He has done a great job in laying this out in a form that allows the reader to ride along on the journey of this work—we know that God tells us “you are the light of the world” but our understanding has traditionally been with regard to sharing our faith in God and witnessing to others. 

The beauty of this work is that it doesn't relate only to our outward reflection of Godlight but leads us to a deeper understanding of what it is—by taking our long-standing grasp of what sunlight is and its relationship to us physically and our physical world and gives us an “aha” moment of understanding how Sonlight (Godlight) performs remarkably similar functions in our spiritual life and on our faith journey. 

He clearly is someone mature in his faith and the text resonates with his deep intimacy with Biblical scripture and his ability to draw these commonalities into an easily-understood book with deep meaning, a balance which isn’t easy to achieve.  Very illuminating!

~ Judge, Writer’s Digest 21^st Annual Self-Published Book Awards 

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

In the time since “GOD LIGHT: Sunlight Sonlight” was released, it has received accolades including being named:

“Gold Medal Winner” (Christian non-fiction) by the “2013 Readers’ Favorite Awards”

“Best Book” (Religion: Christianity) by the “2012 World Book Awards”

“Winner” (Religion non-fiction) by the “2012 Beverly Hills Book Awards” 

“1st Place” (Religion: Eastern-Western) by the “2012 Reader Views Awards”

“Runner-up” (Religion: Christianity) by the “2012 USA Best Books Awards”

“Finalist” (Book: Biblical Studies) by the “2013 Word Guild Awards” (Canada)

There is more information about God Light at the author’s website.

You may order directly from Amazon, Barnes&Noble, Infinity Publishing, and other retailers.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW