Greetings sister saints!
The Lord's mercies are new today! I hope you are pressing on in Him and labouring unto the Lord!
It is good to continue working with our own hands in all good things!
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you.1 Thessalonians 4:11
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.Ephesians 4:28
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:1 Corinthians 4:12
It is a bad thing to be idle...
And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.1 Timothy 5:13
That is talking about women so we see what not to be from Paul's description of them.
By much slothfulness the building decayeth; and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.Ecclesiastes 10:18
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.Ezekiel 16:49
We want to be like this instead...
She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.Proverbs 31:27
And make the best use of the time God gives...
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:15-17
I'm thankful for His Word to guide us!
I was thinking of the popular phrase that says 'keep Christ in Christmas'. I say no, keep Him out of it as He has nothing to do with pagan ways does He. Of course He is everywhere but we know He is separate from darkness. But then again it's a false christ that most have sadly.
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
2 Corinthians 6:15-18
We know we test all things and abhor that which is evil and cleave to that which I good. We must see whether what we do is of God or of the world. Most people don't care about the origins of holidays or the mixing of the holy and the profane. But may we have true reverence towards our God and fear Him to not add anything to our practices that are part of idolatrous ways. This is true love for Him.
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;...
Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
Colossians 1:23,26-28
We have so much truth revealed to us in Christ today! Surely, much will be required of us.
It is good to ponder on the Lord's great mercy and forgiveness. And so it is also good to show mercy and forgiveness to our fellow humans! It is a blessing to do so and we need mercy and forgiveness ourselves too, from God and man. It's one of my favourite parables (if I can call it that) the one about the two servants with the debts. The master forgave one and then he refused to forgive his debtor. It just puts things into proper perspective doesn't it.
I was pondering on this scripture and how this world would be a much better place if it was followed. Of course if all of God's Word was followed it would be perfect but it's the opposite for the most part.
And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.Luke 6:31
At the end of my bus travels the other day in a city bus terminal there was a man who had been on my bus wandering around in a daze as he'd left his luggage on a bench just for a minute or two and it was gone. There's a lot of homeless people around there and there must be people always looking to steal things. Just one of many things showing the sad state of man's heart though of course only God knows what happened so I won't say for sure what happened. But it surely is not doing unto others as you would have them do to you. What a beautiful world it would be if everyone followed His ways! Well one day it will be in the new heaven and earth!
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.2 Peter 3:13
But it also got me thinking about how we need to be very diligent to hold on to the hope we have in Christ and reminds me of this scripture...
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.Revelation 3:11
In some places, we may have to hold tightly to our possessions just to be wise and a good steward but how much more important to hold fast to the truth and that which leads to eternal life right sisters?!
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.1 Thessalonians 5:21
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.2 Timothy 1:13
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