This was just to great not to share. I saw this on a friend’s Facebook page today and I died laughing. Oh how good laughter is to the soul {Proverbs 17:22}.
See…NAPS ARE BIBLICAL! Aren’t we to be putting-on Christ? 🤗
Hope you have a smile on your face! Have a blessed day friend,
In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}
Obedience.
This word means many things to different people: for some it is a scary or dirty word, while others totally disregard it in any form, while others struggle with it but do sincerely try.
Obedience isn’t to be feared if it is given, asked, taken, followed, submitted too under the guidelines of Scripture. Obedience is one of the foundational virtues that Jesus forms in those he calls. He gives us the strength to obey as we make the choice to obey.
Obedience is one of the chief ways we demonstrate our love for God. Not singing Christian songs. Not going to church services. Not having quiet times. Not taking mission trips or doing loving things for others. Yes, yes, yes, all of these are fabulous things — you should be singing to your Lord for that is one way you can give Him worship. You should be active in your local church, for that is where you use your God-given talent(s). You should be having daily quiet time alone with your Lord, for without that time with Him how will you grow? Taking missions trips will change your life forever (spiritually and mentally for you see more than yourself, your needs, your world, and you see God, his people and souls that need Him! We should be loving others — to our brothers and sisters in Christ, as well as loving souls so much that we tell them about our incredible Savior so that they may know Him too! But do you hear what Jesus said:
“If you love me, keep my commands”
(John 14:15).
Don’t you see? If you love HIM first and foremost all those other things fall into place. (the list above for just a few small examples)
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added into you” (Matt. 6:33).
Our list isn’t finished yet…
There are some who have choose to accept, believe, and trust wholeheartedly what biblical obedience is, what it looks like, and how it is to be asked and given. Not because they are super spiritual but because they have chosen before God that despite what their flesh tells them, despite what they were falsely taught (unknowingly and knowing), how they feel, or what has happened to them in the past, God’s way is the best way. God knows what He is talking about, God is God, therefore, I will obey Him and trust in His Words.
Obedience to Him brings freedom.
In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}
Hank isn’t changing. He is a cranky guy. He has been cranky his whole life, and not just about church. He does not effectively know how to love his wife, his children cannot relate to him, and He has no joy. He’s been going to church his whole life — 60 years and nobody is surprised. Nobody in the church is surprised that he stays cranky year after year. No one is particularly bothered by it. It is as if we expect it — that’s just Hank. Nobody is expecting him to be more like Jesus year after year. Yet the Bible does expect it. The writer of Hebrews offers the following challenge:
“You have been Christians a long time now, and you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things a beginner must learn about the Scriptures. You are like babies who drink only milk and cannot eat solid food. And a person who is living on milk isn’t very far along in the Christian Life and doesn’t know much about doing what is right” Hebrews 5:12-13 NLT
The Greek term used in the New Testament for disciple is ‘mathetes’, which simply means “learner.”
As Bill Hull has written, the wrong question for the church is: How many people are present? The right question is: What are these people like?
After people become Christians, the goal is for them not only to learn how to live like Christ, but to actually live like Christ. This involves nothing less than radical life change. If this is not happening, then discipleship is not happening, and rethinking must take place.
Excerpt taken from Rethinking the Church by James Emery White [pg 66-67]
In Christ I am SHE {Saved. Hopeful. Empowered.}
Do you know your Jesus?
Today, choose to live out God’s calling in your life.
He is faithful.
Will you take His hand and trust Him?
Have a blessed Tuesday, friends! đź’ť
