July 2019 - GraceAndWorks

Imagine two grains of wheat lying on the floor of a warm cozy grain bin. One day, the farmer comes in and tells them, “I want to take you out of this warm comfortable bin and plant you in the earth. I’m going to place you in the cold ground and cover you with dirt. It’s going to be dark, and you will die. But, I promise you that you will multiply and become very fruitful.”

The first grain of wheat turns down the suggestion, “No way!” he says. “Count me out. I like my comfort, and I don’t want to die.” The second one, after carefully considering the pain and discomfort of dying, decides the promise of a future harvest is worth the sacrifice. So, the farmer takes him outside and plants him in the ground, allowing the first grain of wheat to remain inside the bin.

A few days later, a small green sprout begins to appear where the seed had been planted. It then grows and becomes a tall stalk of wheat that produces more grains. For the next few years, the farmer plants all the seeds that came from that first grain of seed, and year after year the harvest multiplies. Meanwhile, the grain of wheat that stayed in the bin remains there all alone, never growing or multiplying—BUT, he has stayed very comfortable.

Here’s the question:
Which grain of wheat are you? Are you playing it safe, or have been planted in the world walking with Christ? The only way to become useful and fruitful in God’s Kingdom is by abiding in Him and trusting that His wishes for your life are worthwhile.

SMILE God loves YOU!!
Have a good day all.

There can be a lot of confusion that surrounds humility. Often, humility is associated with quietness, submission and thoughts of inadequacy. But, what does the Bible actually say about it?

Here are four Biblical points that every Christian should know about humility.

1. Humility means submission, but not groveling

Humility and submission go hand in hand.  God’s Word tells us that, as Christians, we are to submit to one another in lowliness of mind. “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” 1 Peter 5:5-6.

By being submissive and “clothing ourselves with humility” we can create peace and unity with the others. We are not to be so proud and high up that we can’t accept correction. Neither should we think our own opinions and thoughts always are better than the others. Such thinking won’t lead us to unity in Christ.

At the same time, being submissive and humble does not mean that we are to bow down to other people. Paul was very clear when he said that we are to serve God and God alone. For, “you were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23. He also writes: “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10.

While it is important to be submissive: to accept correction and remain lowly in our own eyes, as Christians, we are to seek to please God with our lives. We need to fear Him and keep His word. This should be our focus: to humble ourselves under God’s will to keep His commands, not to try to meet human demands and expectations.

2. Humility does not mean that we are silent, or passive people

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward…rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” 1 Peter 3:3-4. God desires that Christians possess a gentle and quiet spirit, so that we can hear God’s Spirit speaking to our hearts throughout the day.

However, possessing a gentle and quiet spirit does not mean that we should be passive people. God also requires action in our lives. Jesus tells us that the kingdom of heaven is taken by force. (Matthew 11:12) All those who want a deeper life with Christ realize that they need to be active, as well as humble. Sin cannot be allowed to be in the heart of a disciple! If we are humble, having a desire to do God’s will, then we will do whatever it takes to keep our hearts and minds pure. Paul writes that we are not to be “…lagging in diligence [zeal],” but rather “fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” (Romans 12:11)

Likewise, while we should always have a quiet spirit before the Lord, there are some situations where God wants us to be bold and speak up before others. Here, we need to forsake our own honor, reputation and natural expectations, and obey the Lord. We should not question our own authority or ability to say or do something that God wants to be accomplished through us. Instead, we should allow God to use us as He pleases in every situation.

3. Humility means we use our talents and capabilities

“For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” Romans 12: 3. To have a humble mindset is to think soberly about oneself. This means that we don’t boast of our own accomplishments and abilities. Rather, we acknowledge that our sufficiency is of God in all of things. (2 Corinthians 3:5)

Nonetheless, this does not mean that we should neglect the gifts and the  calling that God Himself has given to us. God wants us to do a tremendous  work through our lives! He has equipped us each with our own talents and gifts and bought us with the precious blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:18-20)

God desires to be able to use us to His glory and for His purpose, and each of us should be aware of this. Humility is that we use our talents and capabilities under God’s direction and leading, giving Him the honor and glory for what is accomplished through our lives.

“As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11.

4. Humility is the key to progress

“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you… Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:6-8, 10. God works according to laws. It is a natural law that if we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, giving up our own will and honor, then He will give us the grace that we need to live a Christian life in truth, as well as lift us up in His time.

To be humble is to have the same mindset as Jesus Christ. He existed in the form of God, but did not consider equality with God a thing to be grasped, or held onto. Instead, He took on the form of a servant, and came in the likeness of men. “And, being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:7-8.

Jesus is the ultimate example of humility. He did not value His own self-importance or honor, but freely gave it up in every situation so that God’s will could be carried out and God could be glorified through His life.

If we are of this same humble mindset, forsaking our own reputation and honor in order to be obedient to God’s word and will, we will be able to make unbelievable progress in our Christian lives! God pays very close attention to our hearts and is ready and eager to strengthen those who desire to live unto His honor and glory. “Thus says the Lord: ‘Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist, says the Lord. ‘But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.’” Isaiah 66:1-2.

God desires that we be among these, those who have a humble mindset and a desire and need to do His will, who tremble at His word. We are not to be rich and satisfied in ourselves. That is pride and stops God from doing a transforming work in our lives. Rather, we are to be humble and lowly of heart. Then God will regard us and give us the grace we need to make true progress in our Christian lives.

SMILE God loves YOU!! Have a good day all.

We live a good life. Treat everyone with kindness, help where needed, not judgemental, don’t stress about things we can’t control, keep complaining at a minimum, etc. But, does all of that make us a sound Christian? Let’s see…

Let’s look at Titus chapter 3:

Verses 1 and 2 tells us we need to be model citizens. (Good so far)

Verses 3-8,  Sound Christians are motivated:
Verse 3–By their past.
Verses 4-7: By their Salvation
Verse 4–The source of Salvation (Jesus)
Verse 5–Basis of Salvation (Obedience)
Verse 6–The means of Salvation (Study and acceptance of God’s Word)
Verse 7–The results of Salvation (Heaven)
Verse 8–By their actions. (Living a righteous life)

Verses 9-11, Sound Christians reject unsound teaching
verse 9–Stay away from foolish contraversies
Verses 10/11–Reject factious men

Verses 12-15, Instruction to Titas
Verse 14–Let Christians maintain good works, meet urgent needs, that they not be unfruitful.

Sound Christians are obedient and strive to do the Will of God at all times.

SMILE God loves YOU!!
Have a good day all.

 

 

 

Patience is a problem for most of us and is hard to acquire. It is a learned attribute and is not something that happens quickly. It is a virtue. I have said, and maybe you have also, that I want patience and I want it now!! Today I want to share a few verses from God’s word about patience.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,

So that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.