Jesus Is…, 31

~ Jesus Christ Is The Author of Our Faith ~

Passage  ~  “We also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author… of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Significance  ~  Salvation is God’s idea, not man’s concept.  It is the Word of God and the Spirit of God which brings people to salvation.  Jesus Christ was on earth as the living Word of God dwelling among mankind.

Comment  ~  Jesus Christ is still seeking men, women, boys, and girls who are ready to have a relationship with Him.  “The Son of Man [Jesus Christ] has come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

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

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/ .

Fact Check, 53

~ Temporary? ~           

Bible Quotation?  ~  “This too will pass.”

The Bible Says  ~  This is not a quote from the Bible.  In reality, this statement is both true and false—depending upon the context and application of the thought. 

True  ~   All things are temporal except God, His Word, and the souls of mankind. 

God:  “The eternal God is your refuge” (Deuteronomy 33:27a). 

The Word of God:  Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away” (Matthew 24:35).

Human Souls:  See the previous “Fact Check, 52” regarding the two eternal destinies. 

“Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14).

False  ~  Not all pain and misery leave us. 

Example:  The Apostle Paul had a constant thorn in the flesh.  “Lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

The Significance  ~  God will provide strength and comfort to His children but He doesn’t necessarily take the pain away. 

Comment  ~  When someone says, “This too will pass” they are correct if they are thinking in terms of the ultimate result for the Christian.  If when saying “This too will pass” the underlying thought is “eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die” they are misguided. 

~ 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/ .

Learn From Gideon, 17

~ If God Is Leading He Will Provide the Details ~

The Biblical account of the life of Gideon provides for one of the most interesting character studies in all of Scripture.  In this series we will discover practical lessons for living the Christian life today.  

Scripture  ~  ‘Now it came to pass the same night that the Lord said to him, ‘Take your father’s young bull, the second bull of seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image that is beside it; and build an altar to the Lord your God on top of this rock in the proper arrangement, and take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the image which you shall cut down’” (Judges 6:25-26). 

Learn From Gideon  ~  God does not leave His followers in the dark.  Throughout Scripture we find God giving very specific directions to His faithful followers.  Consider just a few examples.

1. God gave Adam and Eve specific instructions (Genesis 2:15-17).
2. He gave Noah specific directions regarding the ark (Genesis 6:13-22).
3. He gave Moses the Ten Commandments (Exodus 19-20:17).
4. He gave Noah specific directions regarding the ark (Genesis 6:13-22).
5. He gave Joshua specific directions regarding the conquering of Jericho (Joshua 6).
6. He gave a blind man specific instructions for healing (John 9:6-12).
7. God has also given His 21^st Century followers very specific directions (including Matthew 28:18-20). 

concluding comment  ~  We learn about Gideon primarily from Judges 6-8, but also Isaiah 9:1-7, and Hebrews 11:1-3, 32-34.

~ 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/ .