Quote: Jim Elliot, 10

~ Fear Not ~ 

An Interesting Paradox…

The following is an excerpt from a book.

Interesting paradox.  A man who has made God his enemy, that man has a chance with God.  A man who admits that he has offended God and has terribly outraged His law, that man has an opportunity to lay hold of the compassion in the Godhead.  But conversely the man who refuses to admit his sin, the man who says everything is all right between him and God, the man who recognizes no breach of fellowship between his Creator and himself, that man never hears the word of Christ, “Fear not.”  

But let a man once confess that he is a sinner, that he is disobedient, that he is an unbeliever, and that man hears from Christ the word as Peter heard in great mercy, “Fear not.”  

Do you know, Jesus Christ showed Himself patient with Peter not only in his original call but also throughout his whole life.  Peter, though he showed signs and strokes of brilliance often—he showed in many cases that he had perception above others of the disciples—yet he blundered.  In those particular instances, where Jesus Christ singled out these three men to deal with them personally, even on those occasions Peter showed himself misunderstanding, proud, even foolish.

Remember the time when the Lord Jesus was transfigured.  The three fishermen, Peter, James, and John, were selected to behold the glory of the Lord.  They were taken up into a mountain by Christ Himself, and there they were sleeping.  As they were sleeping, all of a sudden there appeared to them two others with the Lord Jesus.  They were counseling with Him about His death that He should accomplish at Jerusalem.  Remember that as soon as Peter saw them, he blurted out right in the midst of that august company, because he recognized them as Elijah and Moses, “Lord, let us build here three little tabernacles.  Let’s keep this thing going, Lord.  This is too good to let go. Let’s build three tabernacles, one for You, one for Elijah, and one for Moses.  Let us set them up right here.  Let’s make this little mountain the throne room of the kingdom. Let’s establish the kingdom right here, in terms of three little tabernacles, Lord, You and these other great prophets.”

It was at that moment God Himself rebuked the apostle Peter, for the Scripture says a great cloud overshadowed them and the voice came from the most high, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.”  The other two were blotted out, and with the cloud removed they saw no man save Jesus only.  Why?  Because God will not tolerate comparison with Christ.

~ from “JIM ELLIOT: A Christian Martyr Speaks to You, pgs 56-57  (ISBN: 9781615797646)

Learn more about this important book at Amazon, the Publisher, or the Author’s website.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but 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 at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Bible Question, 13

~ Test Your Bible Knowledge  ~   

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~~~~~ bible question ~~~~~

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question 13:   Who was the youngest king mentioned in the Bible?

Please provide your answer in the comments below!

The answer will be provided in a future blog.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but 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 at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Identity in Christ, 22

~ I Am Alive to Christ ~

Introduction  ~  When Christians understand the various characteristics and aspects of the birthright which came with their second birth, they comprehend their identity in Christ.  Once Christians understand their identity, their destiny is also clear!  This series of “Abundant Life Now” posts will look at one of those facets each week. 

This Week’s Verse  ~  “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  For he who has died has been freed from sin.  Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more.  Death no longer has dominion over Him.  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.  And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:6-14).

Comment  ~  The Christian is not sinless in this life.  But the Christian has power to avoid sin dominating their lives (“present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God”).  When a Christian does sin they should run to Christ rather than away from Christ.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).

~~~ EXPLANATORY “IDENTITY IN CHRIST” NOTES ~~~  

(1)  Each Monday ALN posts an example of Scripture’s description of aspects/characteristics of Christians—those who have personally trusted in Jesus Christ, The Messiah, as their personal Savior.

(2)  This series is not intended to be an exhaustive list.

(3)  God the Father described Himself to Moses as the great “I AM” (Exodus 3:14).  God the Son also said “I AM” (John 8:58). 

(4)  Jesus Christ is the Son of God and several times in the Gospel of John He refers to Himself as “I am.”  “I am the Bread of Life” (6:35-51), “I am the Light of the World” (8:12, 9:5), “I am the Door” (10:7-9), “I am the Good Shepherd” (10:11-14), “I am the Son of God” (10:36), “I am the Resurrection and the Life” (11:25), “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (14:6), “I am in the Father, and the Father in Me … Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me” (John 14:10-11), and “I am the True Vine” (15:1-5). 

(5)  Individual Christians are also sons and daughters of God.  This series will show some of the various “I am” aspects of a Christian. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but 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 at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .