๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐:๐๐ - ๐๐ (๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐)
๐โ๐ฆ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐๐. ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ง ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ, ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ, ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ง๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐. ๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฌ, ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฐ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ : ๐๐ฒ ๐ง๐จ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐จ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐โ๐ฏ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฅ, ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ค๐จ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐โ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ. ๐โ๐ฆ ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐๐ง๐ ๐โ๐ฆ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ค.
I find the words of Paul here so encouraging. Far too often we in our pursuit of perfection we feel like failures. And with that comes a sense of despair and even hopelessness. We can never be perfect as humans. So, what is the point of even trying? This is the evil of this world working to separate us from Godโs love and the good that we can all do. Evil does not win when we fail. Evil wins when we give up.
If we were meant to be perfect, then there would be no reason for grace. Time and time again in scripture we are told that it is by grace not works that we are saved. But that there is a joy and peace that we receive in those moments when we live as Christ called us to. And as we grow in our faith and understanding of Godโs will In our lives, we achieve a calm assurance in knowing that we are Godโs children.
So do not let your imperfection drag you down. Celebrate your success. Recognize your shortcomings. Work towards the progress of becoming more Christ-like. Accepting Godโs grace for you in all that you do.
๐โ๐ฆ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐๐. ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ง ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ, ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ก๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ, ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐จ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ง๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐. ๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐ฌ, ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฐ๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ : ๐๐ฒ ๐ง๐จ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐จ ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐โ๐ฏ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ ๐จ๐๐ฅ, ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ค๐จ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐โ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ. ๐โ๐ฆ ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ซ๐ฎ๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐๐ง๐ ๐โ๐ฆ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐ค.
I find the words of Paul here so encouraging. Far too often we in our pursuit of perfection we feel like failures. And with that comes a sense of despair and even hopelessness. We can never be perfect as humans. So, what is the point of even trying? This is the evil of this world working to separate us from Godโs love and the good that we can all do. Evil does not win when we fail. Evil wins when we give up.
If we were meant to be perfect, then there would be no reason for grace. Time and time again in scripture we are told that it is by grace not works that we are saved. But that there is a joy and peace that we receive in those moments when we live as Christ called us to. And as we grow in our faith and understanding of Godโs will In our lives, we achieve a calm assurance in knowing that we are Godโs children.
So do not let your imperfection drag you down. Celebrate your success. Recognize your shortcomings. Work towards the progress of becoming more Christ-like. Accepting Godโs grace for you in all that you do.
๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐:๐ โ ๐ (๐๐๐)โฃ
โฃ
๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ฒ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ. ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ. ๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐, ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ๐
We must all remain humble in all that we do. This does not mean that we are not to celebrate those times when we do the right things. We most certainly should. But it is as important to recognize when we fall short as well. No one is perfect. In fact, we are far from it. And we cannot improve until we recognize our shortcomings and resolve to improve.
Jesus taught us to remove the plank from our own eye before we looked for the spec in our neighbors. Humility, empathy and love are the characteristics Christ called for us all to be those by which we live. And we must work hard to make these the base in which we interact with all.
โฃ
๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ฒ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ. ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ. ๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐ง ๐ญ๐๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ง๐, ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฆ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ๐
We must all remain humble in all that we do. This does not mean that we are not to celebrate those times when we do the right things. We most certainly should. But it is as important to recognize when we fall short as well. No one is perfect. In fact, we are far from it. And we cannot improve until we recognize our shortcomings and resolve to improve.
Jesus taught us to remove the plank from our own eye before we looked for the spec in our neighbors. Humility, empathy and love are the characteristics Christ called for us all to be those by which we live. And we must work hard to make these the base in which we interact with all.
2 Timothy 3:1 โ 5 (The Message translation)
3 1-5 Donโt be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. Theyโll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes theyโre animals. Stay clear of these people.
Be careful of who you follow. There are always powers at work that are working against Godโs love. This has been true from the start of time and will continue to be so until Christ comes again. So, the question becomes, who do you follow? When all are claiming that they are the true believers while those that oppose them are the heretics, who is right? I think this version of the scripture gives us a good place to start.
Let us think in terms of how Paul taught. Do they produce the fruit of the spirit or the opposite?
Love Indifference
Joy Despair
Peace Chaos
Patience Anger
Kindness Cruelty
Goodness Evil
Faithfulness Idolatry
Gentleness Harshness
Self-Control Self-Indulgence
Do they have empathy or are they narcissistic? Do they show grace or are they unforgiving? In conclusion do they Love God and neighbor (everyone is our neighbor) fulfilling the two greatest commandments taught by Jesus.
This is the test that should be used when deciding who will lead you on a path towards righteousness.
3 1-5 Donโt be naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane, contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers, impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags, addicted to lust, and allergic to God. Theyโll make a show of religion, but behind the scenes theyโre animals. Stay clear of these people.
Be careful of who you follow. There are always powers at work that are working against Godโs love. This has been true from the start of time and will continue to be so until Christ comes again. So, the question becomes, who do you follow? When all are claiming that they are the true believers while those that oppose them are the heretics, who is right? I think this version of the scripture gives us a good place to start.
Let us think in terms of how Paul taught. Do they produce the fruit of the spirit or the opposite?
Love Indifference
Joy Despair
Peace Chaos
Patience Anger
Kindness Cruelty
Goodness Evil
Faithfulness Idolatry
Gentleness Harshness
Self-Control Self-Indulgence
Do they have empathy or are they narcissistic? Do they show grace or are they unforgiving? In conclusion do they Love God and neighbor (everyone is our neighbor) fulfilling the two greatest commandments taught by Jesus.
This is the test that should be used when deciding who will lead you on a path towards righteousness.
Matthew 4:18 โ 20
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 โCome, follow me,โ Jesus said, โand I will send you out to fish for people.โ 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
Since we missed this weekโs worship due to bad weather, I have decided to share some of my thoughts from this weekโs sermon about the calling of the disciples. There are two points that I want to make from this piece of scripture.
The first is that we need to rethink how this call was answered. Jesus had been teaching for a while when the call was made to Peter and Andrew. It is quite likely that they had heard and seen Jesus many times before this moment of decision. In fact, if you read further, you see where James and John are called shortly after. In the Luke version they are referred to as Simonโs partners. So, I think it is safe to say that there had been prior discussions about Jesus as to who he was. Yes, there was a spontaneous response to Jesusโs call, but it was preceded by previous discussions and contemplations.
The second part then is for each of us to consider. We have all spent much time reading, studying and discussing the word of God. But most of us are still sitting in the boat. What has God laid on your heart that you should do and for whatever reason you have not answered that call. The reasons for each person are different and change over time. But the result is the same. We stay in our boat because it is where we are comfortable. We do not want to make waves; we do not want to make people uncomfortable. We are happy where we are. But Jesus is calling all of us to serve God not ourselves.
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 โCome, follow me,โ Jesus said, โand I will send you out to fish for people.โ 20 At once they left their nets and followed him.
Since we missed this weekโs worship due to bad weather, I have decided to share some of my thoughts from this weekโs sermon about the calling of the disciples. There are two points that I want to make from this piece of scripture.
The first is that we need to rethink how this call was answered. Jesus had been teaching for a while when the call was made to Peter and Andrew. It is quite likely that they had heard and seen Jesus many times before this moment of decision. In fact, if you read further, you see where James and John are called shortly after. In the Luke version they are referred to as Simonโs partners. So, I think it is safe to say that there had been prior discussions about Jesus as to who he was. Yes, there was a spontaneous response to Jesusโs call, but it was preceded by previous discussions and contemplations.
The second part then is for each of us to consider. We have all spent much time reading, studying and discussing the word of God. But most of us are still sitting in the boat. What has God laid on your heart that you should do and for whatever reason you have not answered that call. The reasons for each person are different and change over time. But the result is the same. We stay in our boat because it is where we are comfortable. We do not want to make waves; we do not want to make people uncomfortable. We are happy where we are. But Jesus is calling all of us to serve God not ourselves.
๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฐ ๐:๐๐ โ ๐๐ (๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง)โฃ
โฃ
โ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ญ, ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ. ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฉ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐จ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ซ ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ. ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐; ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ก๐จ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ. ๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐จ๐๐ค๐๐ญ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค. ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐.
We hear much about the antichrist and the end times. But if you read scripture there are warnings of many antichrists. This is any person or group that perverts the Gospels of God for their own benefit. These have been in existence from the beginning of the church and will continue until Christโs second coming. Just as is said in ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฐ ๐:๐๐. โฃ
๐๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฆ๐, โ๐๐จ๐ซ๐, ๐๐จ๐ซ๐,โ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ก๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง.
How do we know who to follow and who to believe? We look at their character. Do they live as they preach? Do they have the heart of a servant putting the needs of others before their own? Do they teach love of all neighbors while working for the salvation of all? Are they humble in applying grace to others while acknowledging their own failures? Are their action to the glory of God or themselves? For each of us to accomplish this we must remain both in the word and the Spirit of God. Networking with other Christians to keep us centered in the word. Testing that which is told to us against scripture, with help from the Holy Spirit.
Knowing and serving God is to changes us, make us more loving and working towards our personal holiness. We are to be living into the teachings of Jesus.
โฃ
โ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ญ, ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ. ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฉ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐จ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐จ๐ซ ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ. ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ๐; ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ. ๐๐ก๐จ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ , ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ. ๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฎ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ง๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐จ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐จ๐ซ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ฉ๐จ๐๐ค๐๐ญ๐๐จ๐จ๐ค. ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ง๐๐.
We hear much about the antichrist and the end times. But if you read scripture there are warnings of many antichrists. This is any person or group that perverts the Gospels of God for their own benefit. These have been in existence from the beginning of the church and will continue until Christโs second coming. Just as is said in ๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฐ ๐:๐๐. โฃ
๐๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฆ๐, โ๐๐จ๐ซ๐, ๐๐จ๐ซ๐,โ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐จ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฒ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ก๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง.
How do we know who to follow and who to believe? We look at their character. Do they live as they preach? Do they have the heart of a servant putting the needs of others before their own? Do they teach love of all neighbors while working for the salvation of all? Are they humble in applying grace to others while acknowledging their own failures? Are their action to the glory of God or themselves? For each of us to accomplish this we must remain both in the word and the Spirit of God. Networking with other Christians to keep us centered in the word. Testing that which is told to us against scripture, with help from the Holy Spirit.
Knowing and serving God is to changes us, make us more loving and working towards our personal holiness. We are to be living into the teachings of Jesus.
๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐:๐ โ ๐ (๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง)โฃ
โฃ
โ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ค ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ง๐จ ๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐๐,โฃ
๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ.โฃ
๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ค ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐!โฃ
๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐!โ
I find this particular scripture very relative to how I am feeling right now. We as followers of the word of God have been called to be the defenders of the marginalized within society. I have over the years found great wisdom and relevance in the book of Proverbs.
If you take the time to understand the period leading up to the exile of Israel to Babylon this occurred because of their perverting of justice toward the marginalized within their community. This was advanced by their choosing to worship other gods for which these practices were acceptable. Throughout history this has been repeated. Most times ignored by Christians but in some cases even condoned.
I do not see myself as a prophet like Isiah or Jerimiah. I am just a humble local preacher. But I fear for those that have fallen for these false gods. That has let โthe othersโ be demonized in the name of some mythical solution to a man-made problem. I pray every day that we who believe in Jesus, those that claim the mantle of Christianity will return to the teachings of Jesus and God in both word and deed. Jesus is the way the truth and the light. Only through God and our willingness to follow Godโs command of unconditional love can we even hope to truly improve this fallen world.
โฃ
โ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ค ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ง๐จ ๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐๐,โฃ
๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฌ.โฃ
๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ค ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐๐!โฃ
๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐จ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐ญ๐!โ
I find this particular scripture very relative to how I am feeling right now. We as followers of the word of God have been called to be the defenders of the marginalized within society. I have over the years found great wisdom and relevance in the book of Proverbs.
If you take the time to understand the period leading up to the exile of Israel to Babylon this occurred because of their perverting of justice toward the marginalized within their community. This was advanced by their choosing to worship other gods for which these practices were acceptable. Throughout history this has been repeated. Most times ignored by Christians but in some cases even condoned.
I do not see myself as a prophet like Isiah or Jerimiah. I am just a humble local preacher. But I fear for those that have fallen for these false gods. That has let โthe othersโ be demonized in the name of some mythical solution to a man-made problem. I pray every day that we who believe in Jesus, those that claim the mantle of Christianity will return to the teachings of Jesus and God in both word and deed. Jesus is the way the truth and the light. Only through God and our willingness to follow Godโs command of unconditional love can we even hope to truly improve this fallen world.
๐ ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ฒ ๐:๐ โ ๐๐ (๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง)โฃโฃ
๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ข๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ก ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐. ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ, ๐ข๐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ญ, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก.โฃ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒโ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐-๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐ง๐จ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐. ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐. ๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ก, ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ.
How much do you need to be happy? When reading this scripture, we see a different view of what makes us wealthy. True wealth is the contentment that comes from counting oneโs blessings. Once our basic needs are met, we should be satisfied. Accumulating wealth serves no purpose because in the end we cannot not take it with us.
When we strive for more, we find ourselves in a selfish loop. That no matter how much we have it is never enough. And once we start down that path of material gain, we lose sight of what should be our lifeโs goal. To live as God created us to live. Loving neighbor as oneself. Being a servant first just as Jesus was for us. Following the John Wesley idea, to earn all you can, save all you can so you can give all that you can. In this way using Godโs gifts to bring you the true wealth promised from God.
๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก, ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ข๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ก ๐ฌ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ๐. ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ซ๐๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ, ๐ข๐ ๐ฐ๐ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ญ๐๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐ก๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ญ, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก.โฃ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐ญโ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒโ๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐-๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐ง๐จ ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐. ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐. ๐๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ก, ๐ฌ๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ.
How much do you need to be happy? When reading this scripture, we see a different view of what makes us wealthy. True wealth is the contentment that comes from counting oneโs blessings. Once our basic needs are met, we should be satisfied. Accumulating wealth serves no purpose because in the end we cannot not take it with us.
When we strive for more, we find ourselves in a selfish loop. That no matter how much we have it is never enough. And once we start down that path of material gain, we lose sight of what should be our lifeโs goal. To live as God created us to live. Loving neighbor as oneself. Being a servant first just as Jesus was for us. Following the John Wesley idea, to earn all you can, save all you can so you can give all that you can. In this way using Godโs gifts to bring you the true wealth promised from God.
๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฌ ๐:๐ โ ๐ (๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ ๐ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง)โฃ
๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ? ๐๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง? ๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง. ๐๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ. ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ญ. ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ค ๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ญ.โฃ
๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐งโ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ข๐ญ, ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ? ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ฒ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ? ๐๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎโ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ง๐จ ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ. ๐๐จ๐ฎโ๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐ง, ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ.โฃ
๐๐จ๐ฎโ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐. ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ ๐๐ญ, ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐๐ฆ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ.
As I read this modern version of scripture it really illustrates the world that we currently inhabit. One where it is more important to win an argument than it is to be right. That no matter what my way is the right and only way. And it is not only acceptable but celebrated when we can hurt our opponents in the process of winning.
Too often we exchange Godโs will with our own. And even using selected scripture to justify our chosen position. With this thinking would (Jesus) have been the earthly king the people of Israel were looking for. But Jesus, on the contrary, was a suffering servant to all. Teaching how we should live and love each other by example while giving each the free will to choose.
When we pray, are we asking that Godโs will be done or are we asking God to make us right. Maybe sometimes Godโs choice to tell us no is a better answer. Those of us that are parents know that at times we need to tell our children no for their own good. Even when in doing so we cause them heartache. We must remember that God knows what is best and when we pray accept Godโs answer in faith and love.
๐๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ช๐ฎ๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ? ๐๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐ง? ๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ง. ๐๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐ฏ๐๐ฌ. ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐จ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ญ. ๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ๐งโ๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ค ๐ฏ๐ข๐จ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ง ๐ข๐ญ.โฃ
๐๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐งโ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐จ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ข๐ญ, ๐ฐ๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ? ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐ฒ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ? ๐๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ค๐ง๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎโ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ฐ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ก๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ง๐จ ๐ซ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ. ๐๐จ๐ฎโ๐ซ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐๐ง, ๐๐๐๐ก ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ.โฃ
๐๐จ๐ฎโ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐๐จ๐. ๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ, ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ซ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ ๐๐ญ, ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐๐ง๐๐ฆ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ.
As I read this modern version of scripture it really illustrates the world that we currently inhabit. One where it is more important to win an argument than it is to be right. That no matter what my way is the right and only way. And it is not only acceptable but celebrated when we can hurt our opponents in the process of winning.
Too often we exchange Godโs will with our own. And even using selected scripture to justify our chosen position. With this thinking would (Jesus) have been the earthly king the people of Israel were looking for. But Jesus, on the contrary, was a suffering servant to all. Teaching how we should live and love each other by example while giving each the free will to choose.
When we pray, are we asking that Godโs will be done or are we asking God to make us right. Maybe sometimes Godโs choice to tell us no is a better answer. Those of us that are parents know that at times we need to tell our children no for their own good. Even when in doing so we cause them heartache. We must remember that God knows what is best and when we pray accept Godโs answer in faith and love.
1/8/2026
Matthew 3:7 โ 10
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: โYou brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, โWe have Abraham as our father.โ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
How many today would fall into the category of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Those people that profess their faith in public while worshipping at the altar of money and power. They are under the false belief that going to church and serving on the right committees will be their salvation. Just as John the Baptist said to the Pharisees not to rely on their heritage as a Jew to save them, we must not feel that saying we are followers of Christ is sufficient as well.
If we are to be Christians then it needs to be in heart and deed not in words alone. When we choose to follow Jesus then we are to repent, change our ways, and follow him. Loving neighbors as ourselves. Knowing that it is God's grace that has saved but showing that faith in that grace through action as is said in James 2:18.
18 But someone will say, โYou have faith; I have deeds.โ
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
Matthew 3:7 โ 10
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: โYou brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not think you can say to yourselves, โWe have Abraham as our father.โ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. 10 The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
How many today would fall into the category of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Those people that profess their faith in public while worshipping at the altar of money and power. They are under the false belief that going to church and serving on the right committees will be their salvation. Just as John the Baptist said to the Pharisees not to rely on their heritage as a Jew to save them, we must not feel that saying we are followers of Christ is sufficient as well.
If we are to be Christians then it needs to be in heart and deed not in words alone. When we choose to follow Jesus then we are to repent, change our ways, and follow him. Loving neighbors as ourselves. Knowing that it is God's grace that has saved but showing that faith in that grace through action as is said in James 2:18.
18 But someone will say, โYou have faith; I have deeds.โ
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
๐๐๐ญ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฐ ๐:๐ โ ๐
๐ ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ก๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฆ๐, ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ , โ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ซ.โ ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ค๐๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ฌ๐๐ข๐๐ก:
โ๐ ๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ,
โ๐๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐,
๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ.โโ
๐ ๐๐จ๐ก๐งโ๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅโ๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ. ๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ. ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ง. ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ,
๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ค ๐ข๐ง ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ. ๐๐จ, ๐ข๐ง ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ค ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฉ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ.
John the Baptist is quite a character. To many of his time it was thought that possibly he was the messiah but as we know he was just announcing the Messiahโs coming. But one thing is for sure, the people knew that there was something different about John. The people went to him and after hearing him they knew that they had not been living in a way that would be pleasing to God. And that through Johnโs message they were committed to live better.
I want us all today to consider in what ways you are falling short in your service to your loving God. Meditate on them and then in prayer ask God through the Holy Spirit to guide you on a path towards righteousness. We all need to be honest with ourselves. Celebrating those times when we get it right. But just as important, recognizing when we fall short. Only by acknowledging both can we work our way towards our personal sanctification by Godโs grace and love. Remembering all along that Godโs grace is all we need to be carried through.
๐ ๐๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ก๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฆ๐, ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐๐๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ฒ๐ข๐ง๐ , โ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ญ, ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ค๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ง ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ ๐ง๐๐๐ซ.โ ๐ ๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐จ๐ค๐๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ฌ๐๐ข๐๐ก:
โ๐ ๐ฏ๐จ๐ข๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ซ๐ง๐๐ฌ๐ฌ,
โ๐๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐,
๐ฆ๐๐ค๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ก๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ.โโ
๐ ๐๐จ๐ก๐งโ๐ฌ ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐๐ฅโ๐ฌ ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ, ๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐ ๐ก๐๐ ๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ. ๐๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ฌ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ ๐ก๐จ๐ง๐๐ฒ. ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐๐ซ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ๐๐ฆ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฐ๐ก๐จ๐ฅ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ง. ๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ข๐ซ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ฌ, ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ฒ ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ณ๐๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐ก๐ข๐ฆ ๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐๐๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ซ,
๐๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ค ๐ข๐ง ๐ฐ๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ฉ ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ ๐จ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฆ ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฌ. ๐๐จ, ๐ข๐ง ๐ฉ๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ค ๐ฐ๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐จ๐จ๐ค ๐๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฉ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐จ๐ซ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐ฏ๐๐ง๐ญ.
John the Baptist is quite a character. To many of his time it was thought that possibly he was the messiah but as we know he was just announcing the Messiahโs coming. But one thing is for sure, the people knew that there was something different about John. The people went to him and after hearing him they knew that they had not been living in a way that would be pleasing to God. And that through Johnโs message they were committed to live better.
I want us all today to consider in what ways you are falling short in your service to your loving God. Meditate on them and then in prayer ask God through the Holy Spirit to guide you on a path towards righteousness. We all need to be honest with ourselves. Celebrating those times when we get it right. But just as important, recognizing when we fall short. Only by acknowledging both can we work our way towards our personal sanctification by Godโs grace and love. Remembering all along that Godโs grace is all we need to be carried through.
