Called by God, 12

 

~ The Obedience Call As One Of His Own Special People ~

 

Series Note  ~  In this set of postings we will look at the calling of God from three aspects.  First there is the Universal Call to all mankind for salvation.  Second there is the call that all Christians receive—the Obedience Call.  Finally, there is a call which all Christians receive, but sadly few accept, the Career Call. 

 

In the first post in this series, we considered the Universal Call.  In posts 2-5 we look at the new responsibilities for Christians who have accepted the Obedience Call.  In posts 6-12 we examine the new roles of Christians who have accepted the Obedience Call. 

 

Scripture  ~  “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10).

 

Comment  ~  How often do you reflect upon being named one of God’s own “special people”?  God considers you very special indeed.  While it would be a wonderful honor to be a special agent protecting the President of the United States – think for a moment about the responsibility you have as a special person representing and protecting the reputation of the King of Kings! 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Conscience, 12

 

~ A Good Conscience, 4of6 ~

 

Series Note ~ The conscience plays a crucial role in human behavior.  The Scripture has much to say about our conscience.  In these early posts of this series, we are looking at various Biblical Descriptions of our conscience. 

 

Overview ~ To possess a good conscience means that you are free from such things as guilt, jealousy, greed, anger, and other traits of our sinful nature.  To be in this condition requires that we are “walking in the Spirit.”

 

“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.  For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law” (Galatians 5:16-18).

 

When you are walking in the Spirit you are in constant unhindered communion with God. 

 

Scripture ~ “Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.  But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner” (Hebrews 13:18-19).

 

Other Scripture ~ “Then Paul, looking earnestly at the council, said, ‘Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day’” (Acts 23:1).

 

“Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).

 

“This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck” (1 Timothy 1:18-19). 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Binary, 24

 ~ Binary: One Or The Other ~

 

Series Comment  ~  When it comes to spiritual paths it is strictly a binary choice. 

(1)   It is a choice between the True or False.  “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).  [See Post #1 in this series.]

(2)   It is a choice between Do or Done.  Jesus said, “It [the work of salvation] is finished!” (John 19:30).  Your Doing can add nothing to what Christ has Done for you.  [See Post #2 in this series.]

(3)   It is your choice between Religion or Relationship.  Religions are geared toward self-effort whereas Christianity is an intimacy with the only One who can save.  Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).  [See Post #3 in this series.]

 

Important Note  ~  With this post we are at the start of a binary sub-series of quoting short sections from books that draw parallels between physical light (the sun) and spiritual light (the Son) by Robert Lloyd Russell.

 

Quote  ~  Early in this book we discussed the concept of duality. We saw that light can be explained adequately only by attributing two natures to it. Light apparently is made up of particles or packets of energy and waves at the same time. No one fully understands how this can be, yet scientists accept it as true. Both explanations are necessary to satisfy the known behavior of light. We observed a parallel between the duality of physical light and the duality of spiritual light. Jesus Christ was fully and completely man, while simultaneously fully and completely God. No one understands how this can be, yet theologians accept it as true. Both explanations are necessary to satisfy the known nature of God in the form of Jesus Christ. The Word of God clearly teaches this duality. Duality is the state or condition of being both at once. Both sunlight and Sonlight have dual attributes. Furthermore, physical objects react to both sunlight and Sonlight in a binary manner.

 

We live in a binary world. The word binary also denotes two. Something that is binary is made up of or characterized by having two parts, or two conditions. Modern computers have a profound effect on all of our lives. Computers run on the binary system of mathematics. Instead of the ten numbers with which we are used to working, the binary system uses only two numbers, zero and one. Tiny little “bits” of information are being differentiated inside today’s computers as either zero or one. A bit of information is either on or off. In the terminology of today’s high technology society, binary denotes the state or condition of being on or off, zero or one, one or the other.

 

The speed and performance of modern computers are increasing at an astonishing rate—as a result computers affect our lives in many ways every day. Computerized billing systems remind us regularly of our obligations. Computerized traffic control systems manage our transportation systems. Computers are being used in increasingly useful ways with regard to the design and manufacture of products. Computerized video games have fascinated our society. Computers aid law enforcement officers, while posing new challenges with regard to computer data crimes. Computers have invaded all of our lives and the rate of change is accelerating.

 

One of the important specifications of any computer is its “memory size.” This is a measurement of how many bits of information the computer can store at one time. The great decrease in computer memory cost and the subsequent increase in computer memory capacities are prime reasons for the rapid acceleration in computer applications. There has also been a significant decrease in physical size in computers and their memories.

 

Humans have their own built-in computers. “The information content of the human brain expressed in bits is probably comparable to the total number of connections among the neurons—about a hundred trillion, 10¹⁴, bits. If written out in English, say, that information would fill some twenty million volumes, as many as in the world’s largest libraries. The equivalent of twenty million books is inside the heads of every one of us. The brain is a very big place in a very small space.”²⁴ With all our great technological advances, there is something very humbling about stepping back and realizing the extreme complexity of all of creation. David wrote: “I will praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well” (Psalm 139:14).

 

We have been considering reactions to light. There are many binary reactions to light, reactions that are this or that.

 

Reference  ~  We are now in the process of quoting short sections from the ebook: “GOD’S NATURE: Sonlight Sunlight” (https://books2read.com/GodsNature).

 

Also from the print book: “GOD LIGHT: Sunlight Sonlight” (https://booksrlr.com/printbooks/god-light-sunlight-sonlight/).  ­­­­­­­­­­

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW 

 

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