Tag Archives: gift

Obedience

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Today Stuart challenged us to think about the things that we don’t always want to think about or discuss.  The word Obedience is one of them!  We first looked at how we have never needed to be taught to be dis-obedient!

Yes, my daughter aged 1 knows very well how to be dis-obedient!  It was described really well like this:  Any one born from a human father inherits the original sin of Adam back in the Garden of Eden.  That’s why it comes to naturally!  This also explains why Jesus was able to be on earth, without Sin and be the perfect sacrifice for our Sin as he, although born of a human woman, was the son of God!

Once we determined where dis-obedience stems from, we moved on to look at reasons that we should be obedient to Gods word and do as he wishes.

We looked at several verses (and I wish I had noted them down, I will probably ask for them) that described it as the desire to do Gods will, to be obedient.  I can’t describe exactly how Stuart put it, but will explain what I understood:

When we are born again as Christians, we accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ.  It is the GIFT of God!  We did not earn it!  This of course does not mean we should then continue to live for ourselves.

Living for Christ, and being obedient to him, allows us to lead fulfilled lives, allows us to grow a strong relationship with him, as well as allowing us to do his will, including bringing others to the Lord.  I have never met anyone in my life whom has lived for themselves, and could tell me that they were truly happy.  And from my experience, when I have lived for myself and been dis-obedient, I have been miserable!  When you accept the Lord into your life, he sends the gift of his Holy Spirit who convicts your heart, and makes his desires your desires!

Before I was saved I could sin and feel no remorse!  Now if I sin, I immediately feel terrible and seek the Lords forgivness for it is our hearts desire to be obedient, to do his will, to reach the lost, and to be fulfilled.

Stuart also pointed out that although we are saved we are still to be judged, therefore if we are saved yet don’t live for him, we will still feel some loss when we reach heaven and realise there were blessings we could have benefited from!

In a nutshell, being obedient to his will allows us to grow and to be used for his glory.   And store up those blessings in heaven as you can’t take your possessions with you!

New Living – 2 Corinthians 5:12-21

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When you become a Christian, you have taken a huge step of faith and asked for the Lord Jesus forgiveness of your sins, and for him to come into your heart so that you can live for him. Read more about becoming a Christian here. The moment you do that your life immediately is changed. For many people there is no flash of light, and BANG everything is different, but over the next few days and weeks, as they grow to learn more about Jesus, their lives are transformed.

Once we become a Christian, we wonder what the next steps are. Do we need to follow a set of rules? Can I eat certain foods

? Must I wear certain clothes? Speak in a certain way

?

Remember, to be saved, you need to have taken the step and asked Jesus into your life, you have accepted that he died for you, and you wish to be forgiven. Its a FREE gift, a gift of Grace. Read Ephesians 2:8-9. You don’t earn this gift because we as humans would never be good/holy enough to earn salvation. Therefore you don’t follow a set of rules to earn salvation, you have it!

How to live as a Christian is your living “thank you” to the Lord for saving you. He sacrificed his Son to die in our place so that we may have eternal life and that we may have a relationship with him. Therefore once we accept his as our saviour, we want to live our lives in a way that says “thank you” to the Lord for what he has done.

Therefore, by imitating how Jesus lived, by reading the Bible, Praying and through your relationships with other Christians at church and in groups you learn how to grow and live as Jesus lived, thus breaking free from any sin that’s in your life and being a changed person.

If you have asked him in, then you already have the gift, so the next steps are to learn to live a “thank you” for him. If you are a new Christian then make sure you join a Bible orientated church and make Christian friends so that you will have support in growing as a Christian and fixing anything in your life that you need help with.

Also please contact me if you want more information or have any questions.

Teaching the Children – Psalm 127

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This passage emphasises that Children are a precious gift from God.  It is so important therefore to raise our children in the love and knowledge of the Lord.  If they are to achieve great things in their lives, it will all be in vain without the Lord.

Just like we strive to ensure our Children go to a good school to get a good start in life, we should also ensure they get good spiritual education.  Words are not enough however, we need to live the Good News in our lives every day.  Just as we are a witness to those around us of Gods love by imitating him, we are a witness to our children whom see us every day, and at times even

at our worse!

Hospitality – Romans 12:9-21

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This passage has many truths, however the devotional today has picked up upon the word Hospitality.

Only last night at the church house group we were discussing gifts and how the church is balanced by different people with different gifts all working together as part of the body of the church.  Also see the last post I made.

Hospitality was a gift bestowed upon many, and I think these verses are really emphasising how important that gift is.  By being hospitable to others, to those less fortunate, to the “down and outs” we are showing Gods love, and glorifying him on this earth.  Like previous posts, we are being imitators of God.  His love, shines through our actions and can change the heart of an unbeliever.

Hebrews 13:2 – “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.”

Hospitality can reap many blessings, the above being just one of them.

Teamwork – Romans 12:3-8

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Just as the hand is part of the body and has its own purpose and skill, so does the parts of the body of the Church.  Each one of us is a member of the body of the Church and we have been given gifts that was should use.  There is nothing like teamwork to get a job done.

After all, no one man/woman can see to the entire needs of a Church.  For example someone could be leading worship whilst another leads the youth, another could be making food for a meeting, whilst another can bring a word or testimony to the group to build each other up… one person could not do all this.  Each role is as important as the other, each needs to be performed, and each can be carried out by people who’s God given gifts allow them to do so.

Without the eyes I could not see, without a leg I would struggle to move forward, without my fingers I would not be able to work, and complete many basic tasks in life.  Each small thing has a purpose and is equally important.