Monday, January 25, 2021

Question – Jesus, 76

 ~ Regarding Love, 2of2 ~

Introduction  ~  This series is about questions involving Jesus.  Some were asked by individuals involved with Jesus Christ while He walked on earth.  Others are questions that Jesus Christ asked others.  We will look at questions on about 130 topics (some may split into two or more posts).  Even so, it is far from an exhaustive list. 

Scripture  ~  “So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these? “He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’  He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’  

“He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?  He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’  He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’

“He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me? Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?  And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’  Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep.’

“‘Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.’  This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God.  And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me’” (John 21:15-19).

Questions  ~  Do you truly love the Savior?  Are you following Him daily?  Would an objective bystander answer those same two questions the same way you do?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Sunday, January 24, 2021

God Is My… (Psalms), 47

 ~ God Is My Expectation ~

Introduction  ~  Previously from July 16, 2017 through January 6, 2019 ALN posted a series of 60 posts of “Jesus is…,” and now we look exclusively at who “God is…” from the Book of Psalms.  While not a complete list these posts occur are in the same order they are in the Psalms. 

Passage  ~  “My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.  He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.  In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God” (Psalm 62:5-7).    

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Saturday, January 23, 2021

Myth, 81

 ~ People Are Basically Good ~

Historical Reality  ~  God made man and woman in His image and part of what He gave to man was the ability to make decisions.  Early in human existence Adam and Eve exercised that free will to make wrong decisions and at that moment sin entered into the world and has since been passed down to all humans.  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23-24).

Reality Check (parents)  ~  All parents will testify that they didn’t have to teach their “little darlings” to become selfish and sinful. 

Reality Check (politicians)  ~  In the world of politics the solution of all problems is either to spend more money or provide more education or a combination of both.  Why is it then that the wealthiest and most prosperous nations have never come close to solving the sin nature of mankind.  Could it be that Romans 3:23 above provides the answer? 

The Good News  ~  There is a remedy for sin!  Read the words of Jesus Christ, “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,  that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:14-21). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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