Tag: faith

Abraham and Sarah: Lessons in Growth, Faith and Victory

by Ms. Rita's Minute

In Genesis 11:27-25:11 of the Bible, we are privileged to see how Abraham and Sarah lived long and strong experiencing God’s blessings and struggles toward their victories in life. In their story, we see the results of their faith as well as those moments of their lack of faith.

Some bible facts about Abraham and Sarah: Abraham’s name was Abram before the Lord changed it. His father was Terah (who lived 205 years), and Abram had two brothers named Nahor and Haran (the father of Lot–Abram’s nephew).

Abram’s wife’s name was Sarai before the Lord changed it to Sarah. She was unable to conceive, so at that time, she had no children.

The Lord told Abram to leave his country and go to where He would show him. Abram at 75 years of age took his wife Sarai, his possessions, and his nephew Lot, and went, obeying the Lord. He went to Canaan, then to Bethel, the Negev, then on to Egypt.

Sarai was a very beautiful woman, so Abram asked Sarai to say she was his sister and not his wife so that his life would be saved and he’d be treated well by the Egyptians.

When the Egyptians saw Sarai, she was taken into Pharaoh’s palace and Abram got special treatment and added wealth because of her. Then God inflicted deadly diseases on Pharaoh and his household, after which he told Abram to take his wife and leave which he did with everything he had, along with Lot, his nephew.

Abram was very wealthy in livestock, silver, and gold. Lot, his nephew, was also wealthy and he and Abram could no longer stay together because of their great possessions, as the land could not support it. Quarreling arose between Abram’s and Lot’s herders, so they decided to separate.

Lot and his possessions got carried off by kings that invaded Sodom and Gomorrah as he had pitched his tents near Sodom which was experiencing war. Abram rescued Lot and brought him back along with his possessions.

Later God told Abram that he would give him an heir from his own flesh and blood. He also told him that he would have offspring numbered as the stars in the sky. The Bible tells us Abram believed the Lord and credited it to him as righteousness.

Since Sarai hadn’t given Abram any children, she asked Abram to sleep with her Egyptian slave to build a family through her. Abram agreed and slept with her slave, Hagar, and she had a son whom she named Ishmael (meaning God hears). Eventually, the slave’s pregnancy and the birth of Ishmael caused some problems in Abram’s household. Yet, God was still quite aware and active in graciously helping and an Angel of the Lord promised to multiply her descendants greatly. Abram was 86 years old when Hagar birthed Ishmael.

When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and established his covenant of circumcision promising to greatly increase his numbers and that he’d be the father of many nations. Also, at that time, the Lord changed his name from Abram to Abraham and his wife’s name from Sarai to Sarah, promising she would give Abraham a son, be the mother of nations, and that kings of people would come from her.

During a visit from three men including the Lord, Abraham was told that by that time of the next year, Sarah would have a son. The Bible describes Abraham and Sarah as “already very old” at this time. Sarah was listening and laughed, but out of fear denied she laughed. Yet, by the next year, Sarah gave birth to a baby boy named Isaac. She was 90 years old when Isaac was born and her husband, Abraham was 100.

I’ve only chosen to highlight a few facts about Abraham and Sarah’s exciting life of faith, so as not to go beyond the few minutes I have with you.

I find it remarkable that by faith, Abraham left his family and the land he knew without knowing where he was going. However, his faith did not allow him to have enough courage to tell the truth about Sarah being his wife and trusting God to keep them both safe. He risked her being sexually violated out of fear, but God was faithful and showed everyone who was boss. He would not have her harmed.

Moreover, for Sarah to attempt to speed up God’s promise of birthing a child by giving her slave to Abram, without any mention in the Bible of hesitation from him, but agreement, is somewhat disappointing, though understandable.

Nevertheless, before Sarah’s death at 127 years of age, and Abraham’s at 175, their lives were filled with faith lessons and victories from which our own faith is now inspired.

So what can we, God’s children, do or accept by faith today? What seems impossible or too difficult to do, or believe, that God has actually said would happen for us individually and corporately as Jesus’ body of believers? We should remember the lives of Abraham and Sarah, great lessons in faith, and God’s supernatural ability to bring His will to pass.

Knowing and Enjoying God’s Presence and Leadership

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Thinking about getting to know God, and experiencing His presence in our decision-making and relationships, the Bible has provided so many promises and stories that encourage us toward maturing in our walk with God.

In Exodus 33:13 Moses speaks with the Lord and says, “… Show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. …” The Lord replies in verse 14, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” How wonderful is that? To experience God being with you, and giving you rest? An amazing privilege. And yet we have this blessing today via His Holy Spirit living inside of us. We only need to seek Him and we’ll find Him, when we seek Him with all our hearts, as stated in Jeremiah 29:13.

Regarding the lives of believers in Christ, John 10:10 tells us that “The thief comes only to steal, kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full..” Knowing this truth, we as believers in Christ should accept nothing less than what God says He wants for our lives. Hence, it should be our ambition to stay closely connected to Him; growing in who He is and being who He desires us to be.

Spending enough time in God’s presence, we’ll eventually recognize His Holy Spirit in our lives, as well as in the lives of others we may encounter. We’ll also develop the ability to rightly discern good and evil.

The Bible tells us, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1/NKJV) This scripture was written for all believers, as we are His Beloved.

Then a few verses down in verse 7 we find “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

So, we should know God’s Holy Spirit and His love for us and not be deceived. We should also know that this love is not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the propitiation, or atoning sacrifice, for our sins, also stated in 1 John 4.

Our love for one another should be reflected in our speech toward others as Colossians 4:6 tells us to let it “always be with grace, seasoned with salt” so that we may know how we ought to answer each one.

In addition, the safety measures of setting healthy boundaries are good and necessary to be established in all places; work, church, family, and friendships. Knowing when someone is going beyond what the Bible shows to be a sound and respectful relationship of any kind helps us to guard our hearts as mentioned in Proverbs 4:23. Its importance is highlighted as it is written that our hearts are the wellsprings of life. What is a wellspring? A bountiful source of something.

Praying to God and studying the Bible to learn God’s character and principles for godly living, we come to know God specifically for ourselves, versus only through the experiences and advice of others.

We should then ask God to show us how to be led by His Holy Spirit, and then how to be led by others as we’ll need to do both in life. We’re told in Galatians 5:16 to be led by the Spirit so that we won’t fulfill the lusts of our flesh. These include those selfish things that are harmful to us and others; and those things that displease God. These things include: “sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like” as stated in Galatians 5:19-20. Thankfully, His Holy Spirit’s fruit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

Moreover, we should ask God to give us His perspective on relationships and not be discouraged if we haven’t fully seen it in our lives yet. God is available and willing to help us if we desire His help.

Living in His presence will protect us and help us to understand that love isn’t devious, deceptive, or controlling. We need only focus on Jesus, who’s full of goodness, honesty, and freedom. Hallelujah! Per Psalm 16:11, He’s made known to us “the path of life” and in “His presence there is fullness of joy;” and at “His right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

by Ms. Rita's Minute

On this National Day of Prayer, I’m reminded of an event in the Bible in Luke 11:1-4/KJV where the Lord responded to his disciples when they asked him to teach them to pray as John had taught his disciples. The Lord gave them a simple prayer that encompasses everything we need today. He started by telling them that when they prayed they were to say:

Our Father which art in heaven,
We can now pray to the Father in the place He resides, which the Bible tells us is Heaven, though Jesus also lives in us.
“Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high…” (Psalm 113:5/KJV) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? (2 Corinthians 13:5)

Hallowed be thy name.
The Lord’s name is holy, consecrated; set apart
“Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the Lord which hallow you,” (Leviticus 22:32/KJV)

Thy kingdom come.
The Lord introduces His kingdom to his disciples as well as the blessings that come with it.
“And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.” (Luke 10:9/KJV)

Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
The Lord desires His will to be done where we live as where He lives. This can happen by renewing our minds via the Bible, thereby forgoing the ways of the world, which results in change.
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12:2/KJV)

Give us day by day our daily bread.
As our heavenly Father, God can be trusted to supply all of our needs. He created the earth and everything in it. He is omnipotent; all-powerful. This is easy for Him.
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19/KJV)

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us.

God is merciful and gracious to forgive our sins, but He does require that we forgive others when we’ve been offended.
“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15/KJV)

And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
We can rely on God to order our steps and deliver us from every form of evil.
“And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18/KJV)
“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13/KJV)

Many other factual words of encouragement can be given to uphold these verses in the Lord’s teaching on prayer. However, I’ve only provided a few in my minutes of sharing with you. Nevertheless, I’d like us to remember the following words when our needs or the needs of others come to mind:

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” (1 John 5:14-15/KJV)
“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Luke 11:9/KJV)
“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24/KJV)
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7:11/KJV)

This New Commandment is Deep

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Today I wanted to start my prayer time by reading aloud from the Bible’s book of Psalms as a prayer of my own. I arrived at one of David’s prayers and could not continue because it sounded so much like a curse against his enemies. Nevertheless, I understood his emotions having read all he had experienced from his adversaries in life. However, now we live in a new era after Jesus’ death and resurrection. We have been given a new commandment; a new edict, order, or rule: “Love one another.” (John 13:34) Moreover, this also includes loving our enemies as is taught by Jesus in Luke 6:27.

Interestingly, Jesus indicates it’s no big deal to love those who love us, and for most, if not all of us, even this is a difficult task. Yet the real demonstration of God’s love is loving our enemies (Luke 6:32-34). After all, this is what God does regularly showing His mercy and grace to everyone, though society sometimes represents this action as weak and wimpy behavior.

It’s actually scary to me sometimes, the thought of loving someone who may verbally or even physically abuse me. Yet God has ways unlike our ways and knows what is beneficial and wise for us in our responses to evil. We live to please Him. The Bible says to do good to them and lend to them without expecting anything in return. We are told to be kind and merciful to them (Luke 6:35-36). He tells us to bless and not to curse them and to pray for those who mistreat us.  He even tells us if someone slaps us on one cheek, to turn to them the other also, and If someone takes our coat, to not withhold our shirt from them (Luke 6:28-29). Now mastering these incredible feats really gets our Father’s attention and we will be rewarded by Him.

Nevertheless, I’m convinced that it is impossible to consistently love everyone without the help of the Holy Spirit. He’s the only person who can infuse us with the power to truly love someone who hates, hurts, and harasses us. Yet He doesn’t require us to repay them with like behavior. He is God and knows every unique fiber of their being and doing. So it is only God’s right and authority to handle them accordingly. Thankfully, God is love (1 John 4:8)!

May God give us the strength and courage to love everyone, including our enemies. Despite what society, and even some of our own brothers and sisters, teach us about self-preservation, we are commanded by God to live and respond differently–biblically. As a parent with children or a teacher with students, we may not always enjoy some methods of loving when we aren’t hearing or receiving exactly what we want at the time. Nevertheless, love in its many expressions, is an amazing blessing.

A Christian’s journey is a life of submission to a king and kingdom unlike any we’ve ever known. One that is not worldly, but where love is the chief commandment for living a holy and righteous life. In it, our aim is to do no wrong to a neighbor, even if he’s an enemy. By this we glorify the Father, acting like our Dad.

To me, in some ways, it just makes life easier; love them all! No need to pick and choose who gets the love. Though costly, God repays. Our enemies’ evil issues are not ours to transform. We can only say and do what God says. However, we leave it to God to change hearts in His highest sovereignty and wisdom, while we continue in prayer and obedience as an authentic follower of Christ. As we fellowship with our Father who is love, may we mature in expressing His kind of love to others.

Dealing with Adversaries

by Ms. Rita's Minute

I believe it’s quite amazing how we’re told in the New Testament of the Bible to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us; to bless those who curse us and to pray for those who mistreat us. (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28). Yet, we are given some interesting instructions relating to dealing with the trouble we may incur from our adversaries, which may be encouraging to know. These promises give us hope and confidence that our God takes good care of us during difficult relational issues.

I’m offering the following three reminders that point us toward the right thinking regarding our state of mind and behavior when encountering problems with people whose hearts are set firmly against us.

Our attitude regarding vengeance:
Romans 12:19-21, “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Our trust concerning defense:
Psalm 44:6-7, “I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory, but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.”

Our help in times of trouble:
Psalm 41:1-3, “Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble. The Lord protects and preserves them–they are counted among the blessed in the land–he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. The Lord sustains them on their sickbed and restores them from their bed of illness.”

There are many additional scriptures relating to believers and God’s instructions on vengeance, defense, and trouble. It will help us to do biblical research on those three words to encourage faith in the Lord’s wisdom in dealing with our adversaries.

A Healthy Difference

by Ms. Rita's Minute

What does it mean to be different? What does it mean to be set apart? Being different is described as being dissimilar, distinct, unlike, or separate. As God’s holy people, His set-apart ones, we carry the spiritual presence of our Father wherever we go. Though every word and action may not have reached the full level of perfection, there is a noticeable difference between ourselves, patterning our lives based on God’s standards, versus the world’s or society’s trends and human methods or desires of thinking. As we recognize humans are flawed in many aspects, we remain as such in our thinking, without the influence of our Creator who is all-knowing, everywhere, and all-powerful.

Thankfully, God has provided statutes, commandments, declarations, and attitudes based on heavenly principles that far differ from those of this world’s system. For example, God tells us in Matthew 5: 43-45, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ‘ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Yet the world encourages us to hit back if we are hit. Also, God tells us in Luke 6:38 to “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Nevertheless, the world elevates getting money–more and more–even if you have to step on others to do so.

If we live within a system that functions differently from God’s kingdom, we can expect to be ridiculed, mocked, misunderstood, and even slandered or bullied, much like the children who appear to be weird or odd compared to their classmates. Yet interestingly, if we find the world and those who love it, adore us, we might need to self-reflect to see if we’ve actually become just like them.

Jesus already told us in John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world. …” He also told us in John 15:20, ” ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.” Hence, we are faced with the choice of faith in the Way, Jesus Christ of the Bible, or human logic, philosophy, and reason. This entails God’s way of faith–believing without seeing, over human understanding–God’s Kingdom over our worldly culture.

We as believers have found in Jesus a new and better way of living differently based on life in the spirit, versus life based solely on our own wants and needs. For this, we need God’s Holy Spirit active within us, alive and active in our everyday lives, His word, the Bible, strong in our thinking and doing.

1 Corinthians 2:13-16 shows us how amazing it is to think like Christ. “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments,  for, “Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.”

As a result, we are different in what we believe, say, and do. With gratefulness, we have the freedom or right in this country to share our beliefs and to invite whoever we may to experience our way of worship and love. We are free to share the promises, gifts, and warnings the Lord has provided us for living the godly and abundant life the Lord has given us, remembering, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” ( John 10:10) Hence, he works with us to take part in this endeavor, by sharing with others.

So we aren’t afraid to be different or uncommon, unusual or rare. It is with us as it was with Jesus when He walked the earth. At least that is how we aim for it to be. “But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.  He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (1 John 2:5-6) “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.” (1 John 4:17)

We recognize it is not by our own power or strength, but by God’s Spirit, that we can live life healthy and holy before Him. Moreover, God, in His Bible, makes it crystal clear, what is right and what is wrong. No method of changing or deleting it will matter. He has clearly instructed us on how to behave and how not to behave and left us with gifts to the Church to edify and instruct us on living this different life. “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Thankfully, God sanctifies and works with us to accomplish what He’s created us to do in life. To sanctify means to consecrate, set apart, and declare holy. In this, we are made different. The world as a result will see us as different and hopefully want to join us–a very good thing!

Eradicating the Thieves of Joy

by Ms. Rita's Minute


Throughout life, many opportunities will be presented to steal the joy the Lord has provided. It may be something simple that is uniquely or commonly irritating. Or it may be a larger, jarring circumstance that may cause frustration, worry, and fear. These things seek to take the comfort, delight, and confidence we have in the Lord and replace them with doubt, anxiety, and discouragement.

I love Isaiah 41:13: “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” What great comfort we have in this verse, remembering according to Galatians 3:29, “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” So, with confidence, we can put faith in these words to apply to us as well as Israel.


Joy comes in reading what God reveals about himself and our relationship with him as his children. This is why we must make time to familiarize ourselves with the truth of the scriptures to strengthen our faith. We need to know the God whom we can rely on and what He’s promised us. Do the scriptures not tell us that He is our provider, avenger, refuge, strength, help, fortress, healer, counselor, etc.? All of these things and more should bring us great joy in facing any circumstance or just living our day-to-day lives. We should never forget that the Creator of the universe is always with us and promises to never leave nor forsake us.

Jude 1 reminds us that the Lord is able to keep us from stumbling and to present us before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy! Further, Romans 12:12 tells us to “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”


It will be a great advantage for us to schedule some time each day to engage with the Lord through the reading of His word and prayer realizing that according to Acts 2:28, He has made known to us the paths of life; and will fill us with joy in His presence.

So, let us not allow anything or anyone to steal the fruit of joy God has provided us through His Holy Spirit. We are greatly blessed!

How To Live Well

by Ms. Rita's Minute

As we’re coming upon a new spring season, I’ve considered a few scriptures that I believe the Lord downloaded to me regarding living well:

Agree in Prayer with a Prayer Partner

 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” ~Matthew 18:19/NIV

The Bible tells us that God hears the prayers of the righteous. However, the Lord himself makes known the power in a prayer of agreement in this verse.  Whenever possible, take some time to pray in agreement with someone else about your desires or concerns, remembering Ecclesiastes 4:9, “Two are better than one…”.  

Steer Clear of Covetousness

It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. ~Proverbs 16:19/ESV

It’s quite evident throughout scripture that God is generous and often blesses his people with abundance. However, when faced with the option of wealth with arrogance versus having little with contrite contentment, go with the latter.

Guard Your Journey

The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives. ~Proverbs 16:17/NIV

In the Bible, the Lord has shown us the path we should follow.  We should be alert to the directions He gives us for our individual lives and see them as important guideposts toward fulfilling our destiny for Him.  The protection or security of our lives is influenced by how we safeguard our ways. It is healthy to assess from time to time where we are in our walk with Christ and make adjustments according to the wisdom and knowledge we’re given by his word and Holy Spirit.

Avoid Evil Influences and Behavior

Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.  For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. ~Ephesians 5:1-7/NIV

This passage is pretty explicit about the type of behavior we should shun–works that aren’t congruent with a Christ follower.  Walking in love is God’s way. Moreover, in Romans 13:10 we see that “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Embrace the Grace God Has Given Us to Live a Holy Life

So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. ~Romans 6:11-14/NLT

It is an awesome privilege that God has given us to be able to live free from the control of sin in our lives.  Though it may at times seem like an impossible task, scripture speaks differently.  We have power over our actions, and the option to choose good over evil. We are no longer considered slaves to sin but are free to live the godly life that God expects from us. It’s called grace.  He’s given it to us to live for His glory.  We are now loose, able, and at liberty to exercise God’s righteousness in our behavior, versus letting sin control how we live.

Resist the Urge to Shrink Back

…“But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”  But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. ~Hebrews 10:38-39/NIV

As believers we live by faith which means we are confident of those things we hope for, those things we are unable to tangibly see.  We trust God’s work and word in our lives and we don’t recoil or retract from what we know to be truth.  Apparently, to do so could bring about tragic consequences.  So we remain vigilant in our faith as it is crucial.

We’re Separating

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Unity is a beautiful thing. However, sometimes separating isn’t so bad. Sometimes it’s necessary. I’m referencing 2 Corinthians 6:14-18/NIV where the Apostle Paul is preaching regarding God’s will on separation. He first tells us not to be yoked together with unbelievers. The Greek word for yoked is Zugas which means to be burdened or in bondage. When you yoke yourself with someone or a thing, you are attaching, connecting, or closely linking with them.

Image: anna/Flickr

Unbelievers are those who have no relationship with Christ and don’t believe as God determines belief. They haven’t repented, submitted their lives to the Lord, nor been baptized. Also, they are often those who have professed faith in Christ by words only while living totally contrary to its definition.

Paul characterized this wrongly yoked relationship with the following contrasts:

Righteousness vs Wickedness

Light vs Darkness

Christ vs Belial

Believer vs Unbeliever

Temple of God vs Idols

Image: aboodi vesakaran/Pexels

Paul reminds us that we are the temple of God. So, as believers, we can now trust what God has said that He will live with us, walk among us, and be our God and we His people. But the Lord tells us to come out and be separate, not to touch any unclean thing and He’ll receive us. Therefore, we can expect God to be a Father to us and we’ll be His sons and daughters.

Further, in 2 Corinthians 7/NIV, Paul tells us to purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, “perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” Hence, since we love and respect our Father, we honor Him by living holy and separate from the sinful life that grieves Him.

Image: Hagerty Ryan, USFWS/Pixnio

This doesn’t mean we don’t pray for and show love toward those who don’t believe, but we aren’t to yoke ourselves to them. This can be seen in the Bible’s commands that believers only marry believers. There should only be bonding and connection in this manner to believers. He gives us these commands for a reason. They aren’t to be a means of haughtiness or conceit, but of protection as the bible clearly tells us “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” (Galatians 5:9/NIV)

video: BYJUSClass910/Youtube

There’s no mistaking the awesome privilege of God’s grace and mercy toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. However, there is clearly still work to be done where we recognize what contaminates, defiles, or corrupts our bodies and spirits and cleanse ourselves of those things as shown in 2 Corinthians 7/NIV. We should not be mistaken on this, as some might have us to be, because God expects this of us. If He didn’t, He would not have expressed it in His word.

Revelation 18:4/NIV tells us, “Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “‘Come out of her, my people,’  so that you will not share in her sins so that you will not receive any of her plagues; … .” This is another instance of God requiring separation.

Image: Chris Clark/Pexels

We are wise to assess ourselves and where we are in Christ, as we’re reminded in Revelation 22:12/NIV, ““Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done…, ” and Revelation 22:14-15/NIV, “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.” We want to live eternally with Christ and don’t want the consequences of being disobedient to His commands.

Moreover, we should not be surprised about the popularity of ungodly living. God has warned us ahead of time, that according to Matthew 7:13-14, we are to  “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Image: Adam/Flickr

In any event, we all have been given the right to choose whose way we will follow: our own, another wayward man’s, or God’s. Nevertheless, a sobering thought is Revelation 22:11, “Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”

While remaining alert to how we yoke ourselves in relationships, whether marriage, career, dating, business, etc., may we choose to remember these words of our Lord, ” I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one will take your crown.” (Revelation 3:11/NIV)

Image: Antony Trivet/Pexels

How to Live to Please God

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Ever felt like you just want to be pleasing to God? Yet just how do we please God? 1 Thessalonians 4 tells how to live to please God. In it, we learn that it is God’s will that we are sanctified. The Greek translation for sanctify is hagiazo, which means to set apart for God’s purpose; make holy or consecrate–sanctification being the separation from that which is evil for dedication to God.

In God’s will for us to be sanctified, it is first indicated in 1 Thessalonians 4 that we avoid sexual immorality. Sexual immorality can be defined as any sexual behavior apart from God’s standards provided in the Bible. We are told to control our own bodies, by living holy and honorable. We aren’t to behave in passionate lust like we don’t even know God. We aren’t to take advantage of a brother or sister and we should understand that the Lord will punish those who do these things. We should recognize that God didn’t call us to be impure but to live holy, and if we reject this teaching, we don’t reject men, but God.

In addition, we are told to love one another as we have been taught by God. Moreover, if we are already doing it, we should do it more and more.

In today’s society where we are encouraged to grind and strive to work ambitiously toward monetary success, here we are taught our ambition should be to lead a quiet life with the following qualities:

— Minding our own business (focusing on what God is requiring of us, specifically in our own individual lives).
— Working with our hands (performing assignments we’ve been given, whether preaching, parenting, building, selling, teaching, nursing, managing, etc.); winning the respect of outsiders (esteemed because of the way we exemplify godly living); and ensuring that we aren’t dependent upon anybody.

In conclusion, I’m reminded of another scripture that relates largely to pleasing God: Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Faith, love, trust, belief, confidence–all these things exercised toward God make Him happy.

The Bible also references these actions in pleasing God:

— When we offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is our true and proper worship (Romans 12:1).
— When we serve Christ in a spirit of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval (Romans 14:17-18).
— When we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, not seeking to please people, but God, who tests our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:4).
— When we honor our parents, and take care of our widowed parents and grandparents (1 Timothy 5:4, Deuteronomy 5:16).