Friday, November 11, 2022

Veterans Day 2022

 ~ Honor Those Who’ve Gone Before ~

 

Introduction ~ The Christian is a soldier in the greatest army which ever existed. 

 

“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:3-4). 

 

Honor Our Veterans ~ “And what more shall I say?  For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.

 

“Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.  Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword.  They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented — of whom the world was not worthy.  They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

 

“And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us” (Hebrews 11:32-40).

 

Our Responsibility ~ “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

 

Reminder ~ “No one is discharged in time of war” (Ecclesiastes 8:8b niv).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Thursday, November 10, 2022

Contrast, 3

 ~ Contrast: Eternity with Christ vs. Eternity in Hell ~

 

Series Comment ~ The Scripture contains many contrasts.  In this series we look briefly at some of them.  Just like in our “Binary” series many of these contrasts represent a choice of this or that.

 

Scripture 1 ~ “Don’t let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, and trust also in Me.  There is more than enough room in My Father’s home.  If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:1–3).

 

Scripture 2 ~ Jesus said, “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matthew 25:46).

 

Comment ~ The day of accountability and separation of individuals bound for heaven or hell appears to be coming very soon.  Be warned!  Are you not expecting that at any moment?  If so, read the last line of the next paragraph. 

 

“Jesus said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.  But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.  Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.  But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.  Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (Matthew 24:36-44).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW 

 

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Wednesday, November 9, 2022

God Attribute, 42

 ~ God Helps Us ~

 

This Series  ~  This series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God.  Generally, we move in alphabetical order.

 

Scripture  ~  “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.  For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’  So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

 

“Shall I look to the mountain gods for help?  No!  My help is from Jehovah who made the mountains!  And the heavens too!  He will never let me stumble, slip, or fall.  For He is always watching, never sleeping” (Psalm 121:1-4 tlb). 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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