Tribulation works out endurance, and endurance, approvedness. Then comes hope, the assurance of which we are not ashamed. Then love floods the heart? Wait! Peace comes first through justification in Romans chapter 5. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: ” Romans 5:1 “Justified” is Greek aorist participle, indicating an action done prior to the main verb. So before peace came justification. We were declared righteous at the point of salvation. “‘Peace’ means that the war is done, …God has nothing against us.” “This peace with God must not be confused with the peace of God of Philippians 4:7. Which is a subjective peace, whereas ‘peace with God’ is an objective fact — outside of ourselves. Thousands strive for inward peace, never once resting where God is resting — in the finished work of Christ on Calvary. “ All taken from William Newell…
Tag: <span>patience</span>
Fishermen wade smack-dab into the water where fish swim, as a blue heron readies for it’s own breakfast, lunch or dinner. Why do they go in the water as opposed to fishing from the shore? Here are some answers: “…wearing waders permits me to fish down stream and positioning my lures in the spot that is only possible while being in the water.” “…helps me to avoid the many snags such as branches and tree trunks that are commonly found on the banks of many water ways.” “…With waders on I am able to go upstream 100 meters or so from the group and get the big ones all by myself. ” outdoors.stackexchange As Jesus promises to make us “Fishers of men,” in Mark 1:18, maybe lessons from fish anglers apply. The Pulpit commentary remarks, “It is plain that, in the pursuit of his calling, the fisherman has no power to…
But rather, those members of the body which are considered to be delicate are necessary. 1 Corinthians 12:22 Who might these delicate members be? First lets define the “delicate” generally pleasant, as: “the climate’s delicate, the air most sweet”— William Shakespeare pleasing to the sense of taste or smell especially in a mild or subtle ways. aromatic marked by daintiness or charm of color, lines, or proportions. marked by fineness of structure, workmanship, or textures. marked by keen sensitivity or fine discrimination as delicate insights. Fastidious, squeamish a person of delicate tastes. not robust in health or constitution : a delicate child. easily torn or damaged : fragile – delicate wine glasses, a delicate flower. requiring careful handling. easily unsettled or upset — a delicate balance. requiring skill or tact — in a delicate position. involving matters of a deeply personal nature : sensitive marked by great precision or sensitivity — a delicate instrument The Latin root, (delicatus), means dainty, refined. Synonyms include: Beautiful, birdlike, bonny, breakable, brittle….etc. etc. Have we met any of these kinds of…
Job 23:14 teaches, “For He performs the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.” Job 23:10 says “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” Job 23:6 said, “Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.” Struggle, strive, strain and worry comprise something not Christian, for He is faithful who has called us, who will also do it. God is performing the thing concerning me. But, Job declares these profound truths in a time of severity. Matthew Henry explains: “I am loath to think holy Job would charge the holy God with iniquity; but his complaint is indeed bitter and peevish, and he reasons himself into a sort of patience per force, which he cannot do without reflecting upon God as dealing hardly…
Have you ever met a passive aggressive person? Their blitzkrieg finds an area of release that you vehemently need and refuses it militantly. These are masters of the shut-down, czars of the melt-down, monarchs of the stare-down, and sultans of let-down with swagger. They live for driving people up a tree, frustration’s outer limits, and leave their friends headed toward the nuttery. Really they may be very lonely folk, grown up, but far from mature in some areas —particularly conversation. They don’t know if they can trust you yet to speak their mind; they are afraid that their lousy people skills will potentially turn you off. Could be they are scared of commitments, insecure and suspicious. Often wounded, they move past caring about relationships in general. Because we love these ones, the frustration manifests. A believer who gets converted later in life aggravates the conversing problem. Ephesians tells us of…
Hope ….maketh not ashamed, for the love of God is shed abroad in our heart. Patience found itself through tribulation and then through that patience came experience, and experience birthed hope? Of course, we know the Bible. Hope maketh not ashamed. I love that end product, I wonder about the other stuff. Hope means nothing to us unless contrasted in hopelessness. Shame surfaces in the midst of unrelenting dires of living hell, bombarding mankind from externalities unseen. Our existence and it’s shame abide synonymous. Hope, however, makes us not ashamed. Hope changes a root. Hope deadens a curse, revokes a penalty, releases a fear. That damned shame battles to retain its ground, nevertheless,. Tribulation worketh? How strange a remedy; “tribulation” —not shame release yet, but step 1 builds patience? Couldn’t God think of another way? I must admit that tribulation takes my eyes off my shame. Is there a hint…