God Is My… , 39

 ~ God Is My Living Water ~

 

Introduction  ~  Previously (July 16, 2017 – January 6, 2019) ALN posted a series of 82 posts of “Jesus is…,” and then we looked exclusively at who “God is…” from the Book of Psalms (February 9, 2020 – December 5, 2021).  We are now considering “God is…” statements from non-Psalms passages. 

 

Passage  ~  “So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.  Now Jacob’s well was there.  Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well.  It was about the sixth hour.  A woman of Samaria came to draw water.  Jesus said to her, ‘Give Me a drink.’  For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.  Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, ‘How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?’  For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.  Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.’ 

 

“The woman said to Him, ‘Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep.  Where then do You get that living water?  Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?’  Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life’” (John 4:5-14).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Called by God, 24

  ~ The Call of Elisha ~

 

Introduction ~ Posts 1 – 21 (beginning on April 16, 2022) of this series looked at aspects of the Christian calling.  Specifically, we viewed 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. 

 

Beginning in post 22 we started looking at Biblical examples of God calling an individual. 

 

Scripture ~ “Then He said, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.’  And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

 

“So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.  Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’

 

“And he said, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword.  I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.’

 

“Then the Lord said to him: ‘Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.  Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel.  And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.  It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.  Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him’” (1 Kings 19:11-18). 

 

Comment ~ As noted in our last post in this series God’s call varies greatly between individuals, circumstances, and God’s sovereignty.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Conscience, 24

 ~ Jealousy Degrades Your Conscience ~

 

Series Note ~ The conscience plays a crucial role in human behavior.  The Scripture has much to say about our conscience.  In posts 1—20 of this series, we looked at various descriptions of conscience.  Beginning in post 21 we look at emotional factors that have a very negative impact on our consciences. 

 

Scripture ~ “So the big question is, Why didn't Israel understand that she had no corner on this message?  Moses had it right when he predicted, ‘When you see God reach out to those you consider your inferiors — outsiders! — you’ll become insanely jealous.  When you see God reach out to people you think are religiously stupid, you’ll throw temper tantrums” (Romans 10:19, msg).

 

Comment ~ The passage above is interesting since it shows a form of spiritual pride.  As I explain on my book on pride (see below), I believe spiritual pride must be the most awful form of pride in God’s eyes.  However, there are also good forms of pride. 

 

Likewise, there is such a thing of good jealousy – our God is a jealous God, (Exodus 34:14; 2 Corinthians 11:2, and others) but good jealousy is uncommon.  At the foundation of most jealousy is pride: you feel you deserve what someone else has more than they deserve it. 

 

Solution ~ Gratitude.  Count your blessings.  List all the things you can be thankful for. There is an old hymn that contains the line: Count your many blessings, count them one by one, and see what God has done!

 

Question ~ Are you jealous?  Do you practice thankfulness including for the “small things” in your life. 

 

Note ~My eBook “PRIDE: Good and Bad” (https://books2read.com/Pride-Good-and-Bad) is a good read related to this area.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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