Greetings sister saints!
A new day to serve Him! We take one day at a time and try to do the best in it for Him. And life is like a vapour and time is moving fast. Let us redeem the time in good works for Him! He is worthy!
Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.
For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.
Psalm 33:20-22
I was reading this scripture and it's really a very clear explanation of how we can find eternal life.
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:1-5
We believe in Jesus as the Son of God. We are born of God. We love God (and His children) which leads to obedience (which means we repent too). We overcome.
We know we must continue to overcome to the end! We can't give up part way through our race!
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:Revelation 2:26
It may be a clear explanation but it obviously involves a lot on our part as we know we lose our own life and act to obey fighting the flesh and the world and temptations around us...but His commandments are not grievous! And in Him we can find rest. Rest from our sins which lead to destruction and death and are bondage. And as well He gives us freedom from the old law that was a burden.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30
I was thinking how we each have to grow within the life God has for us. We can't be looking at others thinking "Oh I wouldn't be perfect at that if I tried." So keep seeking to grow where the Lord has planted you! Keep seeking to be perfect at that! He will give us what we need for what He wants us to do. Of course if we're willing and thankful and content. Remember how God uses the humble and lowly servants, those who are not highly esteemed by the world, and gives us work that is also not highly esteemed by the world. Like Titus 2 works...often scorned by the world but often very essential for life in labouring in food and raiment and everything that needs to be done to keep a household going. (for example godly women are often looked down on for being mothers or keepers of the home rather than having a career and sending their children off to school etc.) But we know better than to let what the world says affect us because we're serving God and it matters what He thinks of us!
And of course we know the preaching of the stake is foolishness to the world. And while that's what the brothers focus on we sisters obviously share about Him and His truth and the path to eternal life through Christ!
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.1 Corinthians 1:18
We do have to be careful not to equate people (even ourselves) doing all 'wonderful works' to the Holy Spirit. We know many are sent away by the Lord having never known them despite their wonderful works in His name. We know it profits nothing if we do many wonderful works without agape (love) as described in 1 Corinthians 13. It is a danger to think 'oh those people (or ourselves) are doing so much for the Lord and in His power' when there are clear heretics doing many things in His name and supposedly in His power. We know there are false spirits and we also know humans can do a great deal just in their flesh. And satan can manifest as an angel of light. So much deception. God knows the hearts of all and ourselves too. Many of the false people really think they have the truth and are completely right. And there are others who know they aren't right but yet keep going. Let us hold so fast to the Word of truth and test all things...including everyone and ourselves to it. And keep bringing our flesh into subjection and growing in the Word of truth, examining our faith.
Let us keep pressing on in strong faith. And that's one that doesn't doubt and fear but trusts in God.
There's always that strait we are in between the two...
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
Philippians 1:21-24
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:
(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
2 Corinthians 5:6-9
Sometimes that absence from the Lord can feel great. But He has work for us to do down here as He is the one who is in control of our length of life. Let us keep walking by strong faith (which works by love and surely has great fruit of obedience), labouring to be acceptable of Him at all times.