A Smooth Sea Never Made a Skilled Mariner

When the sea gets rough does our Faith fail or do we be still and Trust Jesus?

Prevention is better than cure

What would you prefer? To sin and find Forgiveness and then have to work on keeping from commiting that sin again (would you really treat the Blood of Jesus that way?!); or to resist the temptation in the first place and thus Honour God, keep yourself clean and become a master regarding that sin?

1 John 2:1-2 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Romans 6:12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

As Christians we are supposed to STOP SINNING! Jesus told the woman caught in the act of adultery to "Go and sin no more" [see John 8:11]

True, Jesus Christ's blood covers all our sins (if we repent of them), but how can we who died to sin live any longer in it?! [see Romans chapter 6]

When tempted don't allow the temptation to dictate to you that it's fine to sin because there is always Forgiveness...that's not true...remember sin is deceitful:

Hebrews 3:12-14 12 'Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end,'

Also, Paul says that there is no excuse for not resisting temptation:

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

As disciples we have a responsibility to keep ourselves clean:

1 John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

And to prevent ourselves from becoming tempted in the first place:

Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

This requires Discipline from God and self discipline on our part, are we willing to receive it and conform to it?

Souls are perishing

Today I feel sad and priviliged. Sad because so many souls around me are perishing and priviliged because it has been granted to me to believe [and to suffer] in the Name of Jesus Christ. I pray that God would have abundant Mercy upon those souls that I pray for and that others would come to have Living Faith in the Living God as I have according to the riches of God's Grace and Mercy which He has bestowed on me abundantly [and mysteriously]

"Strive"

Today I found myself reading Luke 13:24. In context it says:

22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”
And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow [KJV="strait"] gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”

Note - the word STRAIT has various meanings including: STRICT, RIGOROUS; NARROW, Limited in space or time, closely fitting (CONSTRICTED, TIGHT); causing distress (DIFFICULT), limited as to means or resources.

Later on today the Lord spoke and reminded me that this striving is expected from us as good disciples DAILY (See Luke 9:23)

The Greek word translated as "Strive" in Luke 9:23 is agonizomai, (Strong's = G75) meaning - to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary), or generally (to endeavor to accomplish something). It appears 7 times in the New Testament and is translated into English in the KJV as "Strive", "Fight" and "Labour fervently". It occurs in John 18:36, 1 Cor 9:25, Col 1:29, Col 4:12, 1 Tim 6:12, 2 Tim 4:7.

A Dead End

The NKJV has John 1:16 translated as, "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace."

I thought today of how the Presence of God in my Life is such a Blessing and Honour and Priviledge and how I did nothing to deserve it. I thought of the people that I come into contact with in my daily life in work and how they have all the qualifications and fit all the criteria that makes them eligible to receive Grace just as I did, namely, that they are alive in this time just before Jesus Returns. I feel then that as I have received Grace, I should bestow Grace upon others. I am learning that this is done at the discretion of the Holy Spirit, Him having His own will and voice thus enabling Him to communicate His will to me for my Obedience. "Grace FOR Grace" God's Grace shouldn't END with the person that receives it and the person that receives it should not frustrate it. The person that receives God's Grace should [must] allow themselves to be changed by it thus becoming an outlet of God's Grace - one from whom streams of Living Water will flow.

"Of His fulness" to me refers to the fact that in receiving the Holy Spirit [New Birth] you receive ALL of the person of Jesus Christ just as in child-birth a whole child is born and not an arm and a leg or an eye a leg and a nose.