Jesus Is…, 32

~ Jesus Christ Is The Finisher 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… finisher 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  ~  The Apostle Paul could say, “I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand [near the end of his life].  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

Comment  ~  The desire of most Christians is to finish their life on earth well!

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, 56

~ Just Believe ~           

Bible Quotation?  ~  “Just believe and you can do anything.”  This is closely related to the line from the famous poem Invictus: “I am the master of my fate, and the captain of my soul” (William Ernest Hemingway).

The Bible Says  ~  These are foreign concepts to Scripture. 

(1) The Bible does clearly teach that all things are possible with God.  “But Jesus looked at them and said to them, ‘With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’” (Matthew 19:26).  ”Jesus said, ‘The things which are impossible with men are possible with God’” (Luke 18:27).  Notice, that the Word of God makes it clear that somethings are impossible for man. 

(2) Because something is possible does not mean it is probable.  “Jesus went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible [that is according to the will of His Father], let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’ (Matthew 26:39, also see Mark 14:36).

(3) Consider this passage:  “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.  Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Romans 12:18-19).  This passage makes it clear that even when trying to do the right thing—it is not always possible. 

(4) The Scripture also makes it clear that a Christian’s greatest strength is in their humility and recognition of where power comes from.  “Jesus 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.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake.  For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Comment  ~  When we increase our intimacy with God our desires become closer to His will.  As that process matures we seek what He would have us desire.  Then we can rejoice in passages such as the following:  “Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes’” (Mark 9:23).

~ 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, 20

~ Doing The Right Thing Is Often Unpopular With Others ~

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  ~  ‘And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, there was the altar of Baal, torn down; and the wooden image that was beside it was cut down, and the second bull was being offered on the altar which had been built.  So they said to one another, ‘Who has done this thing?’  And when they had inquired and asked, they said, ‘Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.’  Then the men of the city said to Joash, ‘Bring out your son, that he may die, because he has torn down the altar of Baal, and because he has cut down the wooden image that was beside it’” (Judges 6:28-30).

Learn From Gideon  ~  Many times choosing to do what God wants you to do will make you unpopular with others.

1. To honor God with your life will at times require personal sacrifice.  “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12).
2. Life is full of choices and priorities.  “Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men’” (Acts 5:29).
3. This does not surprise God.  Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
4. Even during difficult times God’s peace and divine inner joy are present in the lives of those living close to God.  In the previous verse we find “you may have peace” and “be of good cheer.”  “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience” (James 1:2-3).
5. Think long-term rather than short-term.  “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?  Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?  For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works’” (Matthew 16:24-27).
6. Ultimately we will receive punishment or rewards.  “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17).

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/ .