Our Walk

~ 3 Aspects of Christian Service ~

This is the third part of a three part blog series which presents, “3 Vital Christian Truths,” “3 Purposes of Christian Service,” and “3 Aspects of Christian Service.”

Before God  ~  This is the reality of our service for God. Consider the example of Abraham. “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, ‘I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly.’ Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him” (Genesis 17:1-3). 

After God  ~  This relates to our obedience in our service for God. “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst” (Deuteronomy 13:1-5).

With God  ~  This has to do with our communion with God as we serve Him. Consider the example of Enoch. “Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him” (Genesis 5:21-24). 

application:  Are you walking before God in reality? Are you following after God in obedience? Are you walking with God in continual communion? If not, why not?

~ 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/).

Our Work

~ 3 Purposes of Christian Service ~

This is the second part of a three part blog series which presents, “3 Vital Christian Truths,” “3 Purposes of Christian Service,” and “3 Aspects of Christian Service.”

To Glorify God  ~  As Christians we have been given the Spirit of God, the third member of the Trinity, living within us for the one ultimate purpose.  Jesus said, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13-14).  

To Convict Sinners  ~  As Christians we are unable to do anything of a lasting spiritual nature without the Spirit of God. Jesus said, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper [The Holy Spirit] will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me”  (John 16:7-9).  

To Instruct Saints  ~  Once again we are reliant on the Spirit of God. Jesus said, “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:1-15). 

    

application:  Are you always cognizant of the need of the Spirit of God for enablement in all your efforts? 

~ 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/).

Our Truth

~ 3 Vital Christian Truths ~

This is the first part of a three part blog series which presents, “3 Vital Christian Truths,” “3 Purposes of Christian Service,” and “3 Aspects of Christian Service.”

The Truth About The Christ  ~  While we learn about Christ throughout the New Testament and especially in the four Gospels, no writer provides a deeper look into the Messiah than John, the beloved apostle. Consider this passage, “In the beginning was the Word [Jesus], and the Word [Jesus] was with God, and the Word [Jesus] was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:1-5). 

The Truth About The Church  ~  No New Testament writer provides more depth of understanding about the true Church of Jesus Christ than the Apostle Paul. He is an example, “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power” (Ephesians 3:1-7). 

The Truth About The Kingdom  ~  We learn about the Kingdom throughout portions of the New Testament, primarily from Peter, James, and Jude. “They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:8b-10).  

There is the future kingdom which every Christian should look forward to with great anticipation. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Meanwhile there is the kingdom of God on earth in individual lives as we submit ourselves to God’s desires (His will) for us.

application:  Are you submitting to God now—making Him your pilot in all you do? Are you sure you will reign with Him in the future kingdom of God?

~ 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/).

5 Valuable Items

~ Peter’s “Precious” Things ~

Precious Blood  ~  “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that 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 1:17-19). 

The precious blood of Christ was poured out to redeem mankind who was alienated from God.

Precious Faith  ~  “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love” (1 Peter 1:6-8a).  The precious faith of God’s children is tried and tested as we live out our time on earth. 

Precious Stone  ~  “Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4-5).  As precious living stones, Christians are to uphold the truth. 

Precious Christ  ~  “Therefore, to you who believe, He [Jesus Christ] is precious; but to those who are disobedient, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,’ and ‘a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.’ They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed” (1 Peter 2:7-8).  As Christians we are to love our precious Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Precious Promises  ~  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:2-4).  As Christians we have been given precious promises for which we can ask at the throne of grace through prayer.

~ 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/).