Author: cfwriter

The Glory of God

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The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race.
6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

– Psalm 19 (KJV)

The Lord is Faithful

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16 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.
17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. Also I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!

2 Timothy 4:16-18 (NKJV)

Paul forgave the lack of support; he knew God had a higher purpose for the situation and he yielded to God’s will. He let God take over and God strengthened him and delivered him out of the mouth of the lion.

Paul found freedom when he relied on God. He was delivered from his weakened state and powerlessness and he had full faith God would preserve him no matter whatever evil work he would face.

God has a reason for doing what He does; His work is as much for others as it is for you.

Preserve Your Relationship With God

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I think the verses speak for themselves.

Avoid what keeps you away from Him and part of that means that a Christian must not instigate or engage in these things. Behaving this way costs you your relationship with God; this is not His way.

We are called to be imitators of Christ, to be peace makers, to love one another (friends, foes, and everyone in-between). Being Christian is not about getting one’s points across, about being right (and everybody else’s wrong), or about “who’s best”. It is about following Christ, walking in his footsteps, and serving God – as he did.

Preserve your relationship with God at all cost. Let nothing and no one stand in the way of Him and you.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

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14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

James 2 NKJV – Beware of Personal Favoritism – My – Bible Gateway

 

Walk of Obedience

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Walking with God is a narrow path because few do it. It is full of bumps, of cliffs, of brooks of various depth and width, of missing ground (where you have to leap to get to the other side), of blisters to your feet, of sunburn and bugs bites, of countless tiring efforts, and of pain at times. However, I would not go back to walking the other way, in the larger path, for walking with God is the most amazing thing I have experienced.

I am always amazed to behold His work in every detail and every circumstance He puts me in. As I told a friend,

I don’t force faith, it is something I have because God is a living presence in my life.

I am not here to tell you what to do or what to believe in, I can only bear witness to what God does in my life and tell you why I choose to walk in obedience to Him.

  • Time and time again, He puts me in a situation where I have no other choice but to rely on Him… Regardless of what I think, of what I feel, of what I wish, I say yes to Him.
  • Through this walk of obedience, He teaches me (through comparison, through experience, through observation) and I love learning… I have a thirst for knowledge, I like understanding the “what”, the “why” and the “how” of things so I can be further amazed by His work.
  • Walking in obedience leads you to the truth (about yourself and others) if you have the humility to listen to the Holy Spirit.

Often, He has me doing things I would not do on my own (because the flesh says it doesn’t feel like it or it is afraid), and yet I choose to do them because it helps somebody, because doing so brings me closer to God, because I learn through it, because partaking in His work as His instrument is a great honour, because watching Him in the midst of it is something I will not ever get tired of.

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Make no mistake, choosing obedience requires faith, but I put my trust in God. He is Almighty, that’s all I really need to know.

 

To Those Who Suffer

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Nobody knows suffering as much as Jesus does. He endured it all (emotional, psychological, and physical). He was sought after everywhere he went, either by crowds drawn to him or by Pharisees and the likes who wanted to discredit him and ultimately get rid of him. He had a few friends, followers, yet his people rejected him as a prophet, as the Son of God.

3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

ISAIAH CHAPTER 53 KJV

Jesus, being everything God loves, was nothing to men, insignificant, disregarded. The only men who saw him for who he really was were those who were chosen by God. Jesus was a man of sorrows, familiar with grief; he knew sadness inside out.

Is our walk with God very different from that of Jesus?

Jesus is holy and sanctification is every Christian’s calling. Can we be saints and live a very different life from that of Jesus? That would be very illogical.

Just as it happened with Jesus, nobody will recognize God in us unless God wants them to see Him. The truth we tell will be perceived as lies, our kindness will be perceived as weakness, and our guileless intents will be perceived as wicked. The light of God shines through us, but can a blind man see the light? We are all blind without the Spirit of Truth.

The suffering in our lives has a purpose. It brings us to God, on our knees. Many go to Him for relief and find it. Suffering and understanding give us compassion for others. When we walk in obedience to God, He will protect us from pain because His presence is more powerful than man-inflicted pain. His love is so overwhelming it will be the only thing we feel.

Our perceptions and understanding change in God’s presence; His love is revealed to us and through us, and prior suffering fades away. Love heals, love gives life, and love stands in truth.

Paul says about suffering that if we take part in his suffering, we also take part in his consolation. I for one believe with all my heart that my own suffering is worth it if it opens a door to God revealing Himself to someone who needs Him.

I am just a vessel, but I find honour in Him using me to reveal His glory. There is nothing grander than to be in the presence of God Almighty. My consolation for suffering? Seeing the kingdom of God, his reign, feeling His love and presence, and contemplating His glory. This is enough to have me rejoice, to praise his name, to put a smile on my face and to be awed at God’s Almightiness.

Two Kinds of Wisdom

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13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

James 3:13-18 (King James Version (KJV))

An Approved Workman

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14 Remind them of these things, commanding them before the Lord that they not argue about words, which leads to nothing of value and to the destruction of those who hear them. 15 Study to show yourself approved by God, a workman who need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But avoid profane foolish babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness, 17 and their word will spread like gangrene: Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred, and who overthrow the faith of some. 19 But the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who calls on the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

20 In a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also those of wood and clay; some are for honor, and some for dishonor.21 One who cleanses himself from these things will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, fit for the Master’s use, and prepared for every good work.

22 So flee youthful desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23 But avoid foolish and unlearned debates, knowing that they create strife. 24 The servant of the Lord must not quarrel, but must be gentle toward all people, able to teach, patient, 25 in gentleness instructing those in opposition. Perhaps God will grant them repentance to know the truth,26 and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

2 Timothy 2:14-26

 

Strength

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Why would Paul rejoice in his own weakness?

Finding a plausible explanation is not obvious, is it?

As I understand it, strength is not what we know as strength of personality. It is neither about bullying nor about demanding respect. Strength is not some snappy and hurtful comebacks. Neither is it playing the blame game nor telling home truths.

Strength is utter weakness in which He is strong.

Strength is being in tune with Almighty God.

Strength comes from and is the Holy Spirit; strength is love and forgiveness.

You are Almighty God’s perfect instrument. Your own weakness makes it so that the Holy Spirit can operate in you and use you to fulfill God’s will.

See?

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV

Think about it. Feeling Almighty God’s love go through you is as close to Him as you are going to get in this realm.

What a wonderful feeling!