What does JESUS ask of us?

Way back when I first came to JESUS one song I loved to sing was: Living for JESUS by Thomas o. Chisholm:  “Living for JESUS a life that is true, striving to please HIM in all that I do.  Yielding allegiance glad hearted and free this is the pathway of blessing for me. Oh JESUS LORD and Savior, I give myself to THEE, for THOU in THINE atonement did give YOURSELF for me,  I own no other master, my heart shall be THY throne, my life I give henceforth to live, O CHRIST for THEE alone.”

Yesterday in our Bible study in 1 Timothy we came to 1 Timothy 6:11 and among other things we spoke of how we can obey the command to PURSUE LOVE. We looked up many verses as we cross referenced love in the New Testament.  One verse puzzled several gals.  They wondered how we were to love as JESUS loved us when in the very next verse JESUS spoke of laying down HIS life for us.  The gals thought only physical death and wondered how that applied to them.

Now GOD is love and both GOD the FATHER’s love and GOD the SON/JESUS’ love is shown to us by THEIR personal sacrifice.  They gave up something they treasured for people who mocked them.

GOD is the only ONE who is good (Mark 10:18), therefore we who believe in JESUS and have become GOD’s children (John 1:12) are given GOD the HOLY SPIRIT to live within us. HE, as a river living water (John 7:38-39) flows GOD’s goodness (and HIS other qualities- also called the fruit of the SPIRIT) through us to meet the needs of others around us.

GOD does good to all (Matthew 5:45).  As HIS children we are to follow HIS lead (Matthew 5:48) but that is only possible as we yield to the promptings and warnings of GOD the HOLY SPIRIT who lives within us.  As we choose to listen to HIM and to yield to HIM, HE empowers us to act and feel as GOD wants us to (Hebrews 10:16, Philippians 2:13).

We are commanded, “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in CHRIST JESUS:Who, being in the form of GOD, … equal with GOD:But made HIMSELF … no reputation, and took upon HIMSELF the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, HE humbled HIMSELF, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:4-8).

That is what JESUS is basically asking of us, (since most of us living in the USA will not die as martyrs). 

In John 15:12-13 JESUS said, “This is MY commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”  That is exactly how JESUS loved us.

Both GOD the FATHER’s love and GOD the SON/JESUS’ love is shown to us by THEIR personal sacrifice of putting others before themselves.  Are you, am I willing to sacrifice thinking of ourselves 1^st so that we can love others as JESUS and GOD the FATHER loved us?  Are we willing to obey the clear directions GOD gives us through HIS SPIRIT (John 16:13)?

That song I learned to sing when I 1^st came to JESUS, I believe HE wants the same for us today.

Something to think about, isn’t it?

Hugs

Sharon

Know ME

GOD says, “I don’t want your sacrifices—I want your love; I don’t want your offerings—I want you to know ME!” (Hosea 6:6 TLB).

What comes into our minds when we think about GOD is the most important thing about us for it affects how we think and act.  There is scarcely an error in doctrine, or a failure in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced back to imperfect and ignoble thoughts of GOD. 

Throughout nature we can look around us and learn many things about GOD (Romans 1:19-20, Psalm 19:1-3).

In 2^nd Peter 1:1-4 GOD tells us that through our knowledge of GOD the FATHER and our LORD JESUS CHRIST (who is the exact representation/ likeness of GOD the FATHER- Hebrews 1:1-3) we obtain faith, grace, peace, all things that pertain to living life and being godly, and great and precious promises that if we use transforms us so that we may participate in the very nature of our LORD JESUS (Romans 8:29) that is the divine nature. 

No, we don’t become gods, but we start thinking and acting like GOD our FATHER and JESUS our LORD and Savior.

We find that knowledge of GOD not just in nature but also in HIS word the Bible.  JESUS said that man can not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of GOD.

 But we need an interpreter to understand GOD’s words (1 Corinthians 2:10-11) for man on his own cannot understand GOD for HIS ways and thoughts are way, way above ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).  So GOD, provided a way for us to know HIM.

For GOD so loved the world that HE sent HIS only begotten so that whosoever believed on HIM would not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16. When we believe in the LORD JESUS CHRIST we become the children of GOD ( John 1:12) and we are given the HOLY SPIRIT as our teacher and interpreter and so much more (John 7:38-39).  The HOLY SPIRIT leads and convicts us so we can grow in our knowledge of GOD and personal holiness.

In GOD’s word HE reveals things about HIMSELF through HIS names.  Let’s just look at a couple truths about GOD revealed in that manner.

GOD is the GOD of all comfort who comforts us in all of our affliction, so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction ( 2 Corinthians 1:3-4).  This name shows us HE will meet us in our affliction and give us answers.  Answers that work, and that enable us to help others that are afflicted.  So as HE comforts us, HE prepares us to help others and become more like HIM.

GOD is the GOD of all hope who will fill us with all joy and peace as we believe in HIM, so that we can overflow and abound with hope by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT (Romans 15:13). 

In dealing with rebellious children there has been time after time when I have felt helpless and hopeless. But, GOD the HOLY SPIRIT reminds me of Nebuchadnezzar.  He was the king of Babylon who, due to his pride, went crazy and had the mind of an animal, and for 7 years lived with the beasts of the field and ate grass.  Then one day GOD brought him back to his senses, gave him back the mind of a man, then when Nebuchadnezzar acknowledged GOD was in control, GOD nudged his counselors to come and place him back in authority as king of Babylon.  He became more powerful than before (see Daniel 4 for more of the story). 

Now if GOD can take an insane king and bring him to a place of wisdom to reign, then HE surely knows how to bring my loved ones to their senses so that they escape the snare of the evil one (2 Timothy 2:25-26).  Nothing is impossible with GOD.  HE is the GOD of all hope.

Tell GOD you want to hear HIM speak and open HIS word and you may be surprised.

Hugs

Sharon

A Sacrifice?

Today my pastor’s wife gave her testimony about being a living sacrifice. Why should we be a living sacrifice?

Seeing a glorious sunrise or sunset worship rises within me as I am confronted with the majesty and glory of GOD. Seeing the power of a raging storm I think of how JESUS said “hush be still” and the wind and the waves became calm (Matthew 8:24-27) and I have seen that power as HE has helped me in my times of weakness. Overwhelmed when not knowing what I should do, all I need is a glimpse of GOD’s wisdom in things HE has made from the mosquito with properties science can’t duplicate, the bee’s cross pollination so we could have fruits and veggies, or the DNA found in a single cell and I’m confident that HE can and will guide me in the way I am to go. Seeing truths about the LORD as I read HIS word glaringly expose areas when I fall short and need HIS forgiveness and help to change. Although it was over 60 years ago I saw GOD’s love in sending JESUS to die that I might live and confessed JESUS was LORD. Still to this very day I stand amazed at HIS love and the cost HE was willing to pay that I might be HIS.

“For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the LORD made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Give to the LORD, O families of the peoples, Give to the LORD glory and strength. Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an OFFERING, and come into His courts. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth.” (Psalm 96:4-9)

JESUS was the OFERING that paid the price required for my sin, so what can I offer?

“..by the mercies of GOD present your bodies (for GOD to use to do HIS work) as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto GOD, which is your reasonable service “ (Romans 12: 1).

That is a lifestyle of giving up your rights and acknowledging GOD in everything and letting HIM direct your every step and word. Why should we do it? Because of HIS great mercies to us, the greatest being our salvation from sin and death, it is a small thing, a reasonable thing to ask.

But bear in mind that it’s not a one-time thing to OFFER yourself as a living sacrifice, for even the Apostle Paul said he had to get on the altar as a living sacrifice DAILY (1 Corinthians 15:31). But for you and me it may have to be even more often than that for whenever self rises up wanting its way we fall off the altar.

Think on these things and may GOD give you understanding.

Looking unto JESUS (Hebrews 12:2).

Hugs

Sharon

 

Looking unto JESUS (Hebrews 12:2).

Hugs

Sharon