Greetings sisters!
I hope you're serving our wonderful Lord today! There is much to rejoice and be glad and thankful about in this faith life. I also ponder how there is a very great seriousness to it as well though and for what is going on in the world. We are to be sober minded too. You can think of the work of the devil in this world and how sinister that is. And you can also think of God's just wrath that is being stored up to be poured out upon the wickedness. You can think about the stark differences between the two eternal destinations and you can think how flippantly most are taking this...seemingly not caring if they miss eternal life and instead receive eternal torment. Let us sisters be truly wise.
But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.1 Peter 4:7
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
1 Thessalonians 5:5-8
Let us watch and be sober.
We do not want to do this in any small way even...
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!Isaiah 5:20-21
Let us find in the Word what is good and what is evil. Let us not let man, our flesh or feelings, or the culture around us determine this. Jesus, the Word, is the truth!
It's a constant battle between good and evil, light and dark in this world isn't it...ever since they ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.Genesis 2:17
And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:
Genesis 3:22
We have the choices to make...
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;...I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Deuteronomy 30:15,19-20
Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
Amos 5:14-15
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 5:14
Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Romans 12:9
Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
3 John 1:11
Let us keep striving for good and abhoring and fleeing from evil.
Our God is...faithful and true! Refreshing in a world that is unfaithful and untrue.
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;Revelation 3:14
And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.Revelation 19:11
And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.Revelation 22:6
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.Revelation 21:5
Thankful to be on His side and striving after Him and all truth! Let us be faithful to Him and we can trust He will be faithful to us!
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.1 Corinthians 1:9
We know God's saints, while living in the world, do not participate in either worldly activities nor religious ones that are not in all the truth. We do many physical things in this world; working, serving, feeding and clothing others, 'giving to Caesar'/obeying the government etc. There are many physical things of course that we don't do as they don't line up to the Word and when it comes to spiritual things we need to be very careful too. We test all things including those things which are completely accepted as 'normal life' and highly esteemed in the world, including such things as weddings and funerals for example. At both of these today in our culture there are most often a great mixture of pagan/worldly and also false religious practices, customs, and traditions, so we sisters know we couldn't please God to go along with them, praying, singing and otherwise 'worshipping' God in such settings and with others who do not obey God fully, and who could actually be worshipping a false god or jesus, and mixed with practices that at their origins are ungodly.
Think about if some tradition was just starting in our day...and it was connected with paganism or otherwise disobedient to the Word, we would not go along with it. Over time things just get accepted but God knows what they are and we need to be aware and discerning things to the best of our ability. Nothing wrong with people getting married of course, it's good, and nothing wrong with grieving over and burying a dead body but the world has a way of adding so much that is not godly doesn't it. We sisters just have to discern each situation and please God above people no matter the cost. He is worthy! Let us love Him above all else and love others around us as we can, yet without compromise for our God who is a consuming fire and a jealous God. We want a sincere pure heart for Him. We do not want our lights to be dimmed, nor to become unsavory salt but uphold His light and truth. We love others with the truth and hope all would come to the knowledge and freedom of the truth!
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.John 8:32
I was pondering on the phrase 'the Holy One of Israel'. It just seems to fill you with awe at His holiness.
At that day shall a man look to his Maker, and his eyes shall have respect to the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 17:7
The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 29:19
Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!
Isaiah 31:1
Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:
Isaiah 48:17-18
Let us reverently serve this great Holy One and we have also been called to be holy (set apart).
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.1 Peter 1:15-16
These two scriptures came to mind today too and I love them...
All the day long...in the fear of God. Yes we're never 'off-duty' in this faith life!
The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.2 Samuel 22:47
He lives! He is our hope! As Jesus said..."because I live, ye shall live also.". In Him is life eternal and there is only one narrow way and nowhere else to go! Let us follow hard after Him, doing His ways and not making up our own!
I'm thankful for His Word and to be able to share it with you! Hopefully what I share here can be edifying and encouraging to you too! I trust you're seeking first His kingdom and righteousness, rejoicing in Him and His goodness yet keeping sober minded about this life and the gravity of it. Strive on my sisters...as good soldiers of Jesus Christ, not getting entangled in the affairs of this world. Our citizenship is in heaven and we want our treasures and heart there too!
Love to you in Christ,
Sister Chayil
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