“I’ll change, I promise”. How many times have we heard that or said that? A hurt occurs, sorrow is felt and promises to change are made—but we don’t. What’s up with that? Maybe it’s because we think sorrow and confession are enough to make the changes needed. In the Scripture, the process is called repentance, and that involves much more than saying you are sorry. True repentance involves change—it is a turning from sin and turning to God. The end result of true repentance is glorious. It is a revived life in Christ, knowing that His ways are the best ways, and no treasure tops His righteousness ruling in us. Don’t just believe me, check it out for yourself: 2 Corinthians 7:9-10a, Isaiah 44:22, Philippians 2:13, Romans 12:5, 10. Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold!
0 Comments
Abundance and plenty are mentioned throughout the Scriptures, so what are you crying about? Are you crying because you can’t go for two weeks’ vacation but only one? Or are you crying because you have to eat out only once a week instead of four times a week? Or maybe even more serious, as you are in foreclosure and can’t sell your home or because you have just lost your job and all your bills are due…I still ask you…what are you crying about? Sounds strange to the natural nature to even ask that question because the natural nature screams out, “I am scared to death of what is going to happen!” Don’t be scared. Stay close to Him before your catastrophe, in your tragedy and after the storm (hm-m that translates to all the time!). You see, in HIM we have abundance. Go ahead, check it out: Psalm 36:8, John 10:10, 2 Corinthians 9:8, Ephesians 3:20, Philippians 4:19, 2 Peter 1:11. God is with you. Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold! C’mon…be honest—can you take correction? In reading the account of Mary and Martha, we learn a lot from Martha’s teachable spirit. I’m afraid I tend to be more like Martha sometimes, thinking I have value because I am productive. But I have learned along the way that I have value simply because I belong to Christ! It’s not so much what I do; it’s who I am in Him! So, like Martha, you too have some choices to make when you are corrected, rebuked, or chastened…you can receive it or you can refuse it. The Scriptures tell us to correct, rebuke and chasten one another—so what’s your response to all this? Usually, for most of us, it’s rebellion… “Don’t tell me what to do!” Even if you don’t say it out loud to the person correcting you, it is in your heart and swimming around in your head and you practically blow up holding back the anger at being corrected! An anger that is ready to explode out of your mouth (which sadly sometimes does). Read the Mary and Martha account in Luke 10:38-42…that was some correction Martha received! It doesn’t go on to tell us what her response to Jesus was at that time, but we see her transformation into an obedient and worshipful woman in John 11:1-44 and John 12:1-11…a transformation we all need. Go for it…take it on the chin when Jesus corrects you…don’t let it make you bitter; let it make you better! Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold! |
Archives
June 2023
|