Greetings in love to my sisters who love the Lord!
Another day we have to choose to serve the Lord and keep fighting the good fight of faith! I hope this finds you a strong soldier in the battle with your armour on! We do not want to be deceived and think it's just going to be an easy thing to obtain the kingdom! We do not want to be destroyed for lack of knowledge but diligently seek after the truth!
Sadly many people think being 'saved' is some safe place they are in that guarantees entrance into heaven. We know that isn't so. Well sometimes things have part truths to them but we need all the truth! Yes there is assurance in Christ and He is completely powerful to save the whole world but our heart and actions do have a part in this all of course and there is a place to fear. We wisely consider God's goodness and His severity!
I thought I'd share a few scriptures on both here to encourage us in the truth and truth is so important as deception abounds and we must live by every word of God and not just some!
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.Ephesians 3:11-12
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.Romans 11:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.Hebrews 10:22
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?1 Peter 4:18
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.Hebrews 4:1
So we see there's a great boldness we can have but also a need to have fear remembering His severity and power to destroy if we sin wilfully. Strive on in the truth sisters!
And I'm sharing this part of a psalm because it's good!
My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.
In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.
Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.
Psalm 62:5-8
This is a nice scripture too...
The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.Isaiah 56:8
I was pondering too how it's good to remember all the lessons we have learned in our life and faith walk. We can be forgetful creatures indeed! We can learn from history in the scriptures from good and bad examples and we should also learn from our history of course!
And in that area technology can be a good thing as it records a lot of history. But it can also be bad as well as you can look back at things that aren't edifying or good and we want to have our hand to the plough and not look back! But as usual we just need to be self disciplined and avoid any situation that causes us to do that. Christ and eternal life is ahead!
I was pondering how we are to be 'secretive' about some things as Jesus said let your giving be in private, your fasting, and also your praying.
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.Matthew 6:3-4
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.Matthew 6:6
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.Matthew 6:17-18
Obviously those receiving the giving will know about it but it's really good to simply do things before the Lord so there is no other motive involved. And as the scripture says God will reward us openly (and therefore not secretly). That's interesting to ponder. Indeed pleasing the Lord is a precious thing as we do not want His wrath.
But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.Philippians 4:18
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.Hebrews 13:16
I was thinking about the account of Joseph too...it's a really good one indeed...but I was thinking especially about how he asked the man to remember him before Pharoah but he forgot about him. He had to stay in prison longer.
But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
Genesis 40:14-15, 23
And yes he was in prison for some wicked serious false accusation by a woman too so he really had to deal with a lot so is a good example for us! And of course his own brothers were jealous against him so they were wicked to him too so he had a lot against him. It's a really inspirational account because we see the whole picture of God's plan now but imagine what it would have looked like day by day for him. It would have been slow and had to have much patience in it. But the Lord exalted him to a high position just as he had dreamed about and his brothers hated him for it.
And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.Genesis 50:19-20
And his reunion with his brothers and the forgiveness he showed is a heart-warming one indeed.
It's just encouraging that when others may do evil against us...we hope they will repent too but most probably won't but glory to God some do! And for sure all things even things that look bad to us work for good if we love Him! There's something beautiful about reconciliation, so that makes me think about the greatest one of all how we sinners against God can be reconciled with Him through Christ! Glory to God! Such hope!
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Colossians 1:20-23
Praise God for that and let us continue in the faith sisters!
We always need to be working on being content and thankful and patient and long suffering don't we! But that's good when we are working on things cuz then that means we care that we please Him and not let our flesh do and say and think what it wants to! We never want to give up and let our flesh reign...no!
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;2 Corinthians 10:5
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.1 Corinthians 9:27
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.1 Thessalonians 5:18
But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1 Timothy 6:6-8
Keep standing and walking and running and fighting in all good things my sisters! Only those who have done so will make the kingdom! Strive on and hold fast too! The Lord is at hand. Let us be prepared to meet Him.
Love in Christ,
Sister Chayil
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