Bible Simile, 10of14

~ The Bible is Like a Mirror—It Shows The Truth ~

Bible Similes  ~  The Word of God likens itself to a number of practical items.  “The Word is like…”  In this series we will look at some of the similes of the Bible which are presented clearly in the Bible itself. 

Introduction  ~  I once saw a cartoon of two elderly ladies sitting on a bench.  One said to the other: “I believe my house is haunted.  Every time I look in my mirror a crazy old lady stands in front of me so I can’t see my reflection.”

Like a Mirror  ~  “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:22-25). 

Application  ~  If we apply God’s Word to our lives we will allow it to transform us.  “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

~ 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 Simile, 9of14

~ The Bible is Like Lamp Providing Light—It Directs Our Path ~

Bible Similes  ~  The Word of God likens itself to a number of practical items.  “The Word is like…”  In this series we will look at some of the similes of the Bible which are presented clearly in the Bible itself. 

Comment  ~  Up to this point in this series we have looked at food items—which are good for consumption, digestion, nourishment (life sustaining), and enjoyment.  Beginning in this post we are looking at some tools—which are useful for daily living. 

Like a Lamp  ~  “Your commandment is a lamp, and the Law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23). 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments.  I am afflicted very much; revive me, O Lord, according to Your word.  Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me Your judgments.  My life is continually in my hand, yet I do not forget Your law.  The wicked have laid a snare for me, yet I have not strayed from Your precepts.  Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart.  I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the very end” (Psalm 119:105-112).

“Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.  The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.  I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments.  Look upon me and be merciful to me, as Your custom is toward those who love Your name.  Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.  Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts.  Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.  Rivers of water run down from my eyes, because men do not keep Your law” (Psalm 119:129-136). 

Application  ~  God’s Word provides illumination for the Christian’s walk in a very dark world.  It provides direction, understanding, reproof, and confirmation. 

~ 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/ .

Spiritual War, 15of20

~ Spiritual War: Know 3 War Fronts ~ 

 

Introduction  ~  The Christian soldier is unique in that every individual Christian soldier is fighting on three different front lines—actually fighting three different wars—at the same time.  In other wars individual soldiers are only on one front line at a time!  
We know that our military has different weapons for different wars.  Even their uniforms change—for example there is a vast difference in the camouflage uniforms used in a jungle compared to the camouflage uniforms used in open desert.  Fortunately we too have different provisions including three armors for our three wars.

Internal War  ~  We have ongoing, everyday, skirmishes with our old nature which is called “the flesh.”  Our sin nature which we inherited from the first Adam tries to take control of our lives.  The Bible tells us that “our sinful nature fights against our spiritual nature” (Galatians 5:17).  But this war can never be won by the old nature and its tactics, but only as the new man is possessed by the Spirit of God.  To win this war we need to rethink our strategy (2 Corinthians 10:3).  But we can win this war by putting on “the armor of light” (Romans 13:12).

External War  ~  Meanwhile we are also waging a battle with the world around us which is constantly seeking to mold us into its pattern.  As we fight this war it is easy to be stressed—almost to the breaking point—but in the midst of it all we can have peace (John 16:33).  This war cannot be won by the brute force of our human resistance, but only by submission to the new nature which we received from our Savior, the Last Adam, and spiritual realities (James 4:7a).  This war must be resisted and can be won with the “armor of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 6:7).

Infernal War  ~  Simultaneously Christians are fighting on a third front in a war with the devil and his warriors (Ephesians 6:12).  In one sense this infernal war is opposite of our external war in that this battle cannot be won by submission but rather by resistance through the aid of the Holy Spirit (James 4:7b).  To win this most crucial war we must put on the “entire armor of God” (Ephesians 6:13) which we have been provided.  

 

Consider This  ~  “You spiritual adulterer!  Don't you realize that being a friend of the world and its lifestyle makes you an enemy of God?  Let me say it another way: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God.  What do you think the Bible means when it says that the Spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy, greed, and all kinds of sin?  But remember that God gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires.  As the Bible says, ‘God opposes the proud but He favors the humble.’  So humble yourselves before God” (James 4:4-7).

~ 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/ .