I have been reading so much about the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land after God used Moses to lead them away from Egypt and the slavery of it. I'm reading about it through my daily Bible and also in a Bible study I'm doing. Sometimes it is difficult to apply some of the Old Testament to my life, so I began wondering how I can apply these parts of scripture to my life to grow as God's child.
As I read about the Israelites complaining about their living conditions, I would think, how dare they? After all God has saved them from, the cruel slavery of the Pharaoh of Egypt. Isn't that what they wanted, to be free? But then God stopped my thinking like He does often and asked, "what is your Egypt, Candy?"
What? Ugh? Oh my, what is my Egypt? What is the thing or are the things that hold me back from serving God completely where He can take me to the most inner peace I could ever imagine. What or who do I cling to for comfort instead of my Christ? Oh wow, maybe I shouldn't be so harsh on those Israelites, considering I'm just like them.
I will share one of my "Egypts" that consumes me daily and it is my struggle with food and self-image. I must say, I have done much better in the last few years, but the thought is always in my head. I know God can release me from this, but I choose to keep running back to it. So I'm not so different from the Israelites who, at times, wanted to go back to the slavery of Egypt rather then be free of it. I often choose to go back to the slavery, the torment, the guilt of my self image issue.
So I ask you today, what is your Egypt? You may have more than one, as I do. I only shared one with you. God is so good to us, even when we choose not to love Him with our all. Of course, our goal is to completely love Him with all of our heart, mind and soul. I know I desire to do this more than anything.
"We have redemption in Him through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding." Ephesians 1:7-8 =)
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Thursday, March 1, 2012
"Let Us Not Belittle God's Grace"
My title came from something I heard last night at our Wednesday night Bible study. The entire quote is actually "let us not belittle God's grace by doing stupid things." What a powerful truth. This really made me think about how I want to represent Christ. Everything I do reflects Him because I claim Him as my savior. So how dare I belittle His grace? Grace that He has freely given you and me. Am I perfect? Of course not, but I'm not going to take His grace and then say, "well I can do whatever I want because I'm going to heaven anyway because it is a gift He has given me." My love for Him is too great to treat God in such a disgraceful manner.
I choose to try with all I have to do as James 1:22 says "do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO what it says." And according to 2 Timothy 3:16, which is "ALL scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" so I know that ALL of God's word is good for applying to my life and instilling in my children and my desire is to DO what God wants me to do.
As Christians, we sometimes forget that we are God's witnesses not only with our words but more importantly with our actions and the way we live our lives. I would rather someone not even say they are a Christian if they are not living according to what God's word would have them live. How can Christians never attend church? live together without being married? get drunk every weekend? and the list can go on and on and on. How are these people representing Christ? These are just a few examples of belittling our Savior. These things represents the world, not what the Bible says. So then I ask what do we do about it? Our brothers and sisters in Christ who proclaim to be Christians but are just like the rest of the world, there is no difference in them at all, what are we to do? I say we go to God's word and find out what He wants us to do.
Galatians 6:1 "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." Well He tells us here what we are to do. Speak with them with love, with God's word not our own opinion and also He warns us to not be tempted as well. Sin is a very real thing that can be very deceiving to ANYONE!!!!!! So lets stay in God's word, encourage one another and remember that we represent Jesus Christ. If it would not please Him, then DON'T do it, why? Because we love Him and want to please Him and He knows what is best for us so He is just trying to protect us from the consequences He knows that follows sin.
I always like to end with some scripture so lets remember "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23.
I choose to try with all I have to do as James 1:22 says "do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. DO what it says." And according to 2 Timothy 3:16, which is "ALL scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" so I know that ALL of God's word is good for applying to my life and instilling in my children and my desire is to DO what God wants me to do.
As Christians, we sometimes forget that we are God's witnesses not only with our words but more importantly with our actions and the way we live our lives. I would rather someone not even say they are a Christian if they are not living according to what God's word would have them live. How can Christians never attend church? live together without being married? get drunk every weekend? and the list can go on and on and on. How are these people representing Christ? These are just a few examples of belittling our Savior. These things represents the world, not what the Bible says. So then I ask what do we do about it? Our brothers and sisters in Christ who proclaim to be Christians but are just like the rest of the world, there is no difference in them at all, what are we to do? I say we go to God's word and find out what He wants us to do.
Galatians 6:1 "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted." Well He tells us here what we are to do. Speak with them with love, with God's word not our own opinion and also He warns us to not be tempted as well. Sin is a very real thing that can be very deceiving to ANYONE!!!!!! So lets stay in God's word, encourage one another and remember that we represent Jesus Christ. If it would not please Him, then DON'T do it, why? Because we love Him and want to please Him and He knows what is best for us so He is just trying to protect us from the consequences He knows that follows sin.
I always like to end with some scripture so lets remember "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." Colossians 3:23.
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