Called by God, 28

 ~ The First Call of Jonah ~

 

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 ~ “Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,  ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me.’  But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.  He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord” (Jonah 1:1-3).

 

Comment ~ Jonah is an instructive call because he was not obedient to the call of God on his purpose and mission. 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Conscience, 28

 ~ Realize You Must Protect 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.  In posts 21—25 we looked at the Big Four Emotional factors that have a very negative impact on our consciences.  Finally starting with post 26 we look at dangers to the conscience. 

 

Scripture ~ “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.  For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:1-5).

 

Comment ~ We must proactively protect our conscience. 

 

Solution ~ Regular time in the Word of God and in prayer.  Keep short accounts with God – when your conscience accuses you, first repent and then stay in close communion with God. 

 

Quote ~ “Where the Bible and the Church do not agree, we must obey the Bible, and, where conscience and human authority are in conflict, we must follow our conscience.” –John Wycliffe 

 

Question ~ Are you proactive in protecting your conscience? 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Milestone

 ~ 13 Years of Abundant Life Now ~

 

Thank you!  Thank you – to all my readers!

 

Abundant Life Now’s first post was uploaded on October 21, 2009.  At the start ALN was a weekly blog.  It quickly became more frequent.  Since the beginning of 2015 it has been a daily post.  In all there have been 3,712 posts. 

 

At this point Abundant Life Now has been read in just under 200 countries and has been translated into more than 110 languages.  

 

Individual posts and post series have covered a wide range of topics relating to Christianity and the Christian life. 

 

80 topical series (5 or more posts on a subject) have been completed.  There have been four series that contained over 100 posts.  The longest running series “Messiah” contained 301 posts.

 

Simultaneously, 13 eBooks have been released during the life of this blog (12 written by Robert Lloyd Russell plus his editing of six actual recorded messages of martyred missionary Jim Elliot).  More information about each, as well as the author’s prior print books is readily available at https://booksrlr.com/ or at https://books2read.com/RobertLloydRussell (eBooks only).

 

We very much appreciate your prayers regarding this international ministry and the impact of Abundant Life Now for eternity.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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