Called by God, 20

 ~ God Calls – His Resources ~

 

Series Note  ~  In the first post in this series, we considered the Universal Call to all mankind.  Then we addressed those who accepted that call.  In posts 2-5 we looked at the new responsibilities to accept the Obedience Call.  In posts 6-12 we examined some new roles of those who accepted that initial call.  In posts 13-17 we considered a sampling of specific career calls.  In posts 18-20 we listed responsibilities of those who are called.  In post 21 we will review the past posts and look forward at the next posts.  

 

Scripture  ~  “To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:1b-4).

 

“Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:15-21). 

 

Comment  ~  It is your Responsibility To Know God’s Resources.  Always remember, what He calls you to do, He will empowers you to do if you let Him.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Conscience, 20

 ~ Weak Conscience ~

 

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. 

 

Scripture ~ “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.  For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols?  And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?  But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ.  Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble” (1 Corinthians 8:9-13).

 

Other Scripture ~ “Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.  For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables.  Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.  Who are you to judge another's servant?  To his own master he stands or falls.  Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.

 

“One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike.  Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.  He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.  He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.  For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself.  For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord.  Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.  For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.  But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother?  For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  For it is written:

 

"‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’

 

“So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.  Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (Romans 14:1-13).

 

Comment ~ It is my firm belief that these are the most misunderstood passages in the Bible regarding conscience – if not intellectually, practically.

 

Many interpret this to mean that if I have greater liberty than another then I am stronger spiritually compared to my weaker brother.  The terms stronger and weaker in our society point us away from the main point of the passage. 

 

The point of the passage is that those who are sensitive to the Spirit of God’s direction in their lives often are directed in different ways.  “Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.”  Some Christians may under the Spirit of God’s direction have freedom in an area other Christians do not have – and often vice versa.  

 

Because one has more “liberty” in a particular area does not make them inherently more spiritual!  Just imagine the results if that were taken to the extreme.  No, it just means the Spirit of God is directing them differently than you.  Who are you to question the work of the Spirit?

The point of the passages is that each of us are responsible to follow what the Spirit is telling us to do.  Keep in mind that pride (including of our liberty in Christ) is a key root of all sin.  (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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Binary, 30

 ~ Binary: Sweet Fragrance or Foul Stench ~

 

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  ~  We are currently in 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  ~  This may sound like a radical statement. But this contrast is straight from the Word of God. “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume” (2 Corinthians 2:15-16a nlt, emphasis added).

 

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 

 

*****

God Attribute, 31

~ God Is For YOU ~

 

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

 

Scripture  ~  “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

 

“What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?  It is God who justifies.  Who is he who condemns?  It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.   Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:28-35).

 

Comment  ~  God and you are winners in the end!

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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