Myth, 63

~ Anyone Can Change If They Want To ~

Popular Myth  ~  Our society has a common exhortation to pull yourself up by your bootstraps.  Have you ever tried?  Stand straight, bend over, grab your footwear and pull upward!  Were you successful? 

There have been literally thousands of books based on popular philosophy regarding self-improvement and gaining success.  Many contain successful principles (which align with the Bible) which by themselves do not change the core nature of a human being. 

The Apostle Paul  ~  “For what I am doing, I do not understand.  For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.  If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.  But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.  For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.  Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.  I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.  For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  O wretched man that I am!  Who will deliver me from this body of death?  I thank God — through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:15-25).  

The Reality  ~  Notice that in the above passage the Apostle tells us the only solution is Jesus Christ as Lord of our life.  Only Christ can truly change your life.  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). 

The Process  ~  While some changes are instantaneous it is an on-going life long process.  “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” (Corinthians 3:18).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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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/ .

Fear God, 188

~ The Fear Of God Should Permeate Every Aspect Of A Christian’s Life ~

God does not want His children living in fear.  “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” (2 Peter 1:2-3).  However, God does want His children to have a proper respect and reverence for Him.  We are told in many places in Scripture to “fear God.”  

This Week’s Passage  ~  “Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God.  And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.  But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality” (Colossians 3:22-25). 

Fearing God Results in Salvation  ~  “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).  “A wise person fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16).  This does not mean the Christian is to live a fearful life—but a life which reverences God and seeks to do His will. 

Fearing God Results in Fearlessness  ~  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).  The answer is: only God.  With the gift of salvation comes responsibility.

Fearing God Results in Witnessing  ~  “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

Be an insider!  Sign up for his author NEWSLETTER and receive occasional news and special offers.  His books have won national and international literary awards.  Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift.  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way.  You can easily unsubscribe at any time. 

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 Introversion, 2

~ Introversion Outline of the Bible, 2 ~

Jesus Christ is the central point of history----we live some 2,000 plus years after Christ as our calendars regularly remind us.  Jesus Christ is, more importantly, the central point of God’s Word—The Holy Bible.  We find the life of Christ in four biographies at the beginning of the New Testament—they are called The Gospels which means “Good News.”  The good news is that Jesus Christ, the very Son of God came to earth to pay the penalty of the sins of mankind—for those who are willing to accept His gift. 

OLD TESTAMENT

~~~~~1~ God’s Righteous People in Paradise – Genesis 1-2

~~~~2~ Satan and Sin Entered – Genesis 3-5

~~~3~ The World Judged and Destroyed – Genesis 6-9

~~4~ One World Government – Genesis 10—11

~5~ The Old Covenant – Genesis 12-Malachi

THE CENTRAL POINT OF HISTORY: Jesus Christ – The Gospels

~5~The New Covenant – Acts-Jude

~~4~ One World Government – Revelation 6-14

~~~3~ The World Judged and Destroyed – Revelation 15-19   

~~~~2~ Satan and Sin Exit – Revelation 20

~~~~~1~ God’s Redeemed People in Paradise – Revelation 20-22

NEW TESTAMENT 

Comment  ~  Abundant Life Now has previously published introverted outlines (or parallel outlines known as chiasms) one of which was like today’s post of the entire Bible.  For those who would like to review them here are the links to those prior posts.

Bible Introversion  ~ Introversion Outline of the Bible ~ April 15, 2017

Bible Hourglass   ~ This Bible Outline Encompasses All Time ~ Saturday, April 22, 2017

10 Commandments Today, 14of14  ~ Notice the Introversion of the Ten Commandments ~ Thursday, June 28, 2018

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

Be an insider!  Sign up for his author NEWSLETTER and receive occasional news and special offers.  His books have won national and international literary awards.  Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift.  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way.  You can easily unsubscribe at any time. 

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/ .