HOW BURNED WOULD YOU BE?

2:8 For by grace you are saved ¹⁹ through faith, ²⁰ and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 2:9 it is not from ²¹ works, so that no one can boast. <sup>22
NET http://bible.org

This is the scripture used in the movie about the martyrdom of the Christian Jan Hus (John Huss). Hus was burned at the stake for heresy in part for teaching the word of God in everyday language so that it could be understood by the common man.

He was an educated man and served as rector of the University in Prague in the early 1400s. Part of what struck me about the story of Hus is that he thought he could reason with men who also claimed to be Christian, but soon learned that the truth had never been the issue. Certainly not the truth of the Bible or of the forgiveness of Christ.

All that Hus had to do to be released by the council was to denounce the things he had been teaching. Jan felt to do so would be to deny Christ's calling on his life, thereby denying Christ.

They took him out and burned him at the stake on July 6, 1415.

My question today to all of us is this. If you were told that today you were going to be burned at the stake for your beliefs in Christ, but you could save yourself by denouncing them, would you?</sup>

WALKING AWAY - CAN YOU?

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, ⁹ quarrels, and fights about the law, ¹⁰ because they are useless and empty. 3:10 Reject a divisive person after one or two warnings. 3:11 You know ¹¹ that such a person is twisted by sin ¹² and is conscious of it himself. ¹³ NET http://bible.org

The most interesting part of this short quotation of scripture to me is the part about the divisive person knowing that they are being divisive and is twisted by sin. This is a revelation in that I have often thought that people did not know or understand that they were acting sinfully even after being instructed by the pastor or another close Christian friend. Personally, this makes it easier for me to walk away from that person (reject them), which is something I have always found hard in life. I am glad that God covers all of the bases for us. All we have to do is get into the word.

This is not to say that this person can't be redeemed, but they will have to turn in repentance from their sin and find reconciliation with Christ Jesus before he can be reconciled back to the fellowship of true Christian believers.

THE WAVES ROAR AND CRASH

Psalm 93 ¹

93:1 The Lord reigns! He is robed in majesty,

the Lord is robed, he wears strength around his waist. ²

Indeed, the world is established, it cannot be moved.

93:2 Your throne has been secure from ancient times; you have always been king. ³

93:3 The waves ⁴ roar, O Lord, the waves roar, the waves roar and crash. ⁵

93:4 Above the sound of the surging water, ⁶ and the mighty waves of the sea, the Lord sits enthroned in majesty. ⁷

93:5 The rules you set down ⁸ are completely reliable. ⁹ Holiness ¹⁰ aptly adorns your house, O Lord, forever. ¹¹

NET http://bible.org

Isn't it the most peaceful thing in your life to know that God is sovereign. He is in control and no matter what comes up against you, you can depend on the fact that He set down the rules for all that exists or ever will exist; therefore despite all, His will is all there is. The world can lash out at the shores of all He did but He remains securely on His thrown.
As a Christian plant these words from the scripture in your heart and rejoice as you go through the trials of this world that indeed whatever happens the result is written down forever and is secure in Him. It let's us know that whatever we are going through God is using it.

FAMILY

Ephesians 4:1-6

4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, ¹ urge you to live ² worthily of the calling with which you have been called, ³ 4:2 with all humility and gentleness, ⁴ with patience, bearing with ⁵ one another in love, 4:3 making every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling, 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. NET http://bible.org
It is very easy, if one is not careful, to offend even the closest of friends or family. A misstated word, a disgusted look, an unthinking action, listening or reading with judgment, ignoring, even timing can sometimes separate those that are suppose to love one another. Living worthy of our calling is not something we are even capable of doing alone but only with the guidance of The Holy Spirit of God. (Galations 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.) We forget too frequently that everyone else that has been called into the family have the same feelings, trials and hopes that we have.

This scripture in Ephesians reminds us that we are family and our Father wants us to act like it.

COMMENDED? OR NOT?

Hebrews 11:1-4

Context

People Commended for Their Faith

11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see. 11:2 For by it the people of old ¹ received God’s commendation. ² 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds ³ were set in order at God’s command, ⁴ so that the visible has its origin in the invisible.

NET http://bible.org

Do you have faith in what God has told you He will do, or is your faith only based on what you think God is doing? It is easy to fall into a trap of only praising God for the things we see and not for those we don't see. According to this verse and those that follow in chapter 11 of Hebrews that really isn't faith.

The people of old, the scripture goes on to tell us, acted on what God told them to do believing Him for the outcome. We look to those heroes in the Bible as an example of how we should respond on a daily basis, but how many times do we crumble in fear when it looks like things might not turn out quite the way we had planned. The key words being .... we planned.

As people of faith we have to understand that whatever comes, God is in control! There is such a peace that comes over us when we come to a point in our walk with the Lord that we receive the peace of that faith.

I encourage you to read the entire 11th chapter today! So many of us especially need to be reminded of what faith really is, I know I often do!

CONTINUED RESPONSIBILITY

Colossians 1:3-8

Context

Paul’s Thanksgiving and Prayer for the Church

1:3 We always ¹ give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 1:4 since ² we heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the saints. 1:5 Your faith and love have arisen ³ from the hope laid up ⁴ for you in heaven, which you have heard about in the message of truth, the gospel ⁵ 1:6 that has come to you. Just as in the entire world this gospel ⁶ is bearing fruit and growing, so it has also been bearing fruit and growing ⁷ among you from the first day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth. 1:7 You learned the gospel ⁸ from Epaphras, our dear fellow slave ⁹ – a ¹⁰ faithful minister of Christ on our ¹¹ behalf – 1:8 who also told us of your love in the Spirit. NET http://bible.org

Do we fall short in our thinking of our responsibility to those around us? It has been the effort of the church for sometime now to report on the number of baptisms and in some denominations there are even acknowledgments in the form of certificates given for the most baptisms in a year! All well and good, as supposedly those that are baptized are then raised up (discipled) into their walk and the teachings of Christ. I am not saying at this point if in my opinion that is true or not, but asking the question..... 'Do we continue in prayer for those who have come into the faith, or do we get them baptized and move on to the next guy?'

This entire chapter, as well as multiple others, implies that we should hold up in prayer those who have come to know the Lord Jesus through the gospel that was brought to them that they might GROW in their faith, being able to receive the meat of the gospel and not just the milk that they have received already.

Just a thought, are you praying today for a new Christian?

EVALUATE THE MOTIVE

Proverbs 21:2-3
21:2 All of a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion,
but the Lord evaluates the motives.
21:3 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. NET http://bible.org


What person doesn't justify what he(or she) has done? Not only to others but to ourselves as well. Have you ever had a situation that caused you to lie to yourself about why you did something, said something or even thought something. Not to be harsh but if you said no, you are probably lying right now.
In a dispute, don't you always think you are right. If you didn't there would be no dispute.
The motives of our hearts may be hidden to others, and sometimes we can fool ourselves, but God knows our true motives. Doesn't just the knowledge of that make you want to cry out for forgiveness? Doesn't it break your heart to know that while you may fool others, the God that loves you and gave you everything knows the very heart of you?

CONTROVERSY

2 Timothy 2:22-26

2:22 But keep away from youthful passions, and pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace, in company with others ¹ who call on the Lord from a pure heart. ² 2:23 But reject foolish and ignorant ³ controversies, because you know they breed infighting. ⁴ 2:24 And the Lord’s slave ⁵ must not engage in heated disputes ⁶ but be kind toward all, an apt teacher, patient, 2:25 correcting ⁷ opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance and then knowledge of the truth ⁸ 2:26 and they will come to their senses and escape the devil’s trap where they are held captive ⁹ to do his will. <sup>10
NET http://bible.org


Staying away from controversies may have become harder since the advent of the committee in churches, but it is still very plain that the Bible tells us in more than one place that heated or silly arguments shouldn't be a part of church life. Using the fruits of the spirit such as the patience and gentleness mentioned here can bring the true believer back into agreement with the group quite efficiently. To me the key here is the company that is being kept in that it describes them as those who call on the Lord in a pure heart.
If you are going to church meetings with the intent of creating a fire of controversy, once again I end by saying, check the motives and pureness of your heart!</sup>

SEARCHING ALL HEARTS

I John 4:19-21 (KJV)
We love him, because he first loved us.
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

This is a challenge for a heart search! The scripture quoted is addressed to the church in which we are called to be brothers. Too often men will claim to love God, but here are a few questions to answer about what you would do concerning God:
Would you ever speak trash about God?
Would you gossip about God's friends?
Would you try to bring God down by criticizing or belittling Him to His Face?
Would you fail to praise and uplift God?
Would you ever turn your back on God?
Would you refuse God if He said He needed you?
Naturally we all want to puff up and say of course I wouldn't do any of those things! I love God!
I would only do those things if I hated God! But wait, Did you:
trash a brother?
gossip about a sister?
criticize the preacher?
let a friend stay in sorrow?
turn the other way when people in the church family are in need?
refused to call a brother or sister back because you don't have time?
Well, the scripture just said if you hate your brother and say you love God, you are a liar!
Think about it, some repentance may be in order.

YOLKED WITH WHO?

II Corinthians 6:14-18 (NIV) Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." "Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."

This scripture is often used as referring to marriage and while indeed it certainly can apply there as well, there is much more involved. It is an intense warning to not mix other religions with that of the Christian faith. It tells us to be separate. Bluntly, it asks what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? This isn't talking about liking the same football team, this is talking about spiritual matters.
It tells us that as Christians we are the temple of the living God. That doesn't mean that you can't invite the lost to church to hear about salvation, but it does mean that you don't bring their things into your minds and hearts, for you are where the Holy Spirit of God resides and to do so would be an abomination.
As sons and daughters of God through our faith in Jesus Christ we have an obligation to make disciples in the world but in the truth and knowledge of the Holy Word of God, not in making it acceptable together with what is already their world view and beliefs.
When my sons were small, we often discussed the term, 'junk in, junk out'. It means that what you feed your mind is what will come out of your heart, mouth and life.

THE HEART OF THINGS

Hebrews 4:12-16 (NIV) For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Do you ever stop to think that as you are angry at someone and railing on them within yourself that you are showing God just who you really are? We can go around acting pious but the living word of God says that nothing is hidden from Him and all will be laid bare and we will have to give account to Him.
Wow, if that doesn't cause you to ask forgiveness for the things you know are true about yourself that other people don't know, I can't think of anything that would EXCEPT that God sent His Son to save us from our own personal sin (of which no man can deny having because God knows our hearts!)
This scripture tells us that Jesus was tempted in every way we are but did not sin and we may go to the throne of grace and mercy because of Jesus.
A great man of God explained to his congregation many times that the difference in grace and mercy is this. Grace is when you receive something you don't deserve (forgiveness). Mercy is when you don't receive something you do deserve (punishment).
Please think about these scriptures today as you go through your day and when you become tempted, even if it is in your heart where only God can see, give it to the Lord that it might not become sin. The sin is not in the temptation, but in the acting on it even if it is in your head and heart that you are acting on it.

CAN WE BE HOLY?

I Peter 1:13-16 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

The apostles were with Jesus & the Biblical disciples were with the apostles. We, on the other hand, can be with Jesus through the Holy Spirit and we can experience what He and the apostles said through the Word. (See also John 1-the entire chapter to understand who and what the Word is).
God has given us the truth through His Word and in it Jesus tells us to be holy because He is holy. When the truth is revealed to us through the Word, and we repent from our sin and believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then the Holy Spirit can come and reside within us. Through the guidance and prompting of the Spirit we then can cultivate the fruits of the Spirit through study of the Word in preparation of our minds, prayer and fellowship with the Lord and by listening to the bidding on our hearts and minds to do His will and not our previous unrighteous acts.
The Holy Scriptures of God make us witnesses to what He has done for us that we might be prepared as His disciples to go out and make other disciples. (see Matthew 28)
The only way we can be holy is through Jesus Christ who is holy.

HOW DO WE PRAY?

Mathew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The Lord's prayer was given on two separate occasions and settings in the Bible, but both times the Lord was giving instruction to us on how to pray. (While I usually use the NIV in this blog, I chose to use the King James because that is the way I learned it and I like the harmonious flow of it.)
As we see the Lord instructs us first to address the Father. This tells us that this prayer is for the believer (the Christian). God becomes our Father when we become adopted through faith in Jesus Christ His only begotten Son. Therefore, we are approaching God in a whole new light than someone else (who could also pray to God but is not in a personal relationship with Him).
After addressing Him, we then proceed to praise His name. The word hollowed as described in the dictionary is: holy or sacred. The importance of praise is emphasized throughout the entire Bible, but to me the significance here is that it is to be first, above any other communication we have with Him. If we can't praise Him than we don't truly honor who He is.
Thy kingdom come. This is a stand alone sentence. It ends with a period and is a statement of the desire for God's kingdom, and what we have to look forward to. Our hope for our future with Him. As His children we should always want His will and as His children we know that our lives are chaos in any will other than His.
Now we ask simply for our daily provision. Bread is representative in the Bible in two ways. One way is as physical food and the other way is spiritual food. Both are important ingredients to the health of a Christian, but spiritual food (the Word) is what actually will sustain us through eternity. (Something to consider as you move on to the next verse.)
Forgive us our debts (the version of the prayer in Luke says sins), don't sins make us indebted to God. Isn't that what Christ did for us on the cross, forgave our sins. The next part is the one that makes many stumble though. Christ knew that and went on after the prayer to further elaborate on our forgiveness of others being a criteria for our own forgiveness.
Asking to be kept from temptation and being delivered from evil or the evil one is in itself a testimony of what we face on a daily basis, but with the Lord's guidance, we can overcome all temptation as it comes our way.
For thine is the ........does not appear in the oldest manuscripts and in Luke's version is left off all together, however, once again it is acknowledgment of who God the Father is and a fitting praise of His Holiness. As Christians after Christ's sacrifice to make it even possible to address God as Father, we then end the prayer in Jesus Name.
I find it interesting that the people of the time as well as ourselves need to be taught to pray. Obviously, we do or Christ would not have told us how to do so on two occasions. I encourage you to study this prayer for yourself and evaluate your own prayers as you move forward in your walk with the Lord.
Have a blessed day and don't forget to PRAY.

Until He Comes or until I go,
Nikki

DON'T GO OUT WITHOUT IT!

Ephesians 6:18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

As I promised I have included this verse with those describing the armor of God, BECAUSE IT IS INCLUDED in the Bible with the armor. Note the word AND at the first of the sentence. It doesn't say to put all of the pieces on and then just rush out into the world; it says to put all of the pieces on and then in the Spirit pray. We are to pray on all occasions. We are to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ (all the saints).
When we praise God, we are acknowledging who He is in all of His majesty as creator of everything and Lord. Jesus Himself prayed continuously. He gave us an example of how to pray (see Matthew 6:9-13).
Note as well, that it says prayers and requests. I bring this up because I wanted you to note the separation of prayers and requests (see also, I Timothy 2:1). In too many "christian" churches today, there are a plethora of requests and very little praise, and sometimes the other way around, not praying for each other at all. Prayer meetings have become about man and not about God. The Lord has been laying this on my heart lately because of my own prayer life. Our family has been through many hard things lately and when things are happening all around us, we (all people) have a tendency to become self centered instead of God centered.
So before you go out that door with your armor in tact, on ALL occasions pray. Prayer is praise of and communication(the imparting or exchanging information or news) with God!
I hope you have enjoyed this series on the armor of God. The next series will be on the Lord's prayer. I look forward to your comments and questions.

Until He Comes or until I go,
Nikki

HELMET AND SWORD

^{Ephesians 6:17}Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

We might ask ourselves why salvation is portrayed here as a helmet. When God calls us to Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives, He no longer sees us but instead sees the blood of Jesus that covers us. There are many times in the Bible where the word covering, covered or cover is used but two of the interesting ones are where Noah was told to put the cover on the ark (which we know the ark represented salvation) and in 1Corinthians the 11th chapter where it is talking about a woman covering her head and a man not, but then goes on to say that in Christ there is no separation (we are all the bride of Christ). I challenge all to do a study on the cover words and see some of the interesting things you start to perceive. Do not, however read only the verse but the chapter in context with the writing. You will, I guarantee, find some interesting things out!
Notice that the helmet does not stand alone in the sentence. The sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. As a Christian we know that the Word is God breathed, that Jesus became that Word in the flesh, and that the Holy Spirit comes to seal us and convict us of our sins by revealing Jesus through the Word of His gospel to us.
We have now gotten all of the pieces of the armor on during the last few writings, but we are not done getting ready for our day. Join me on Sunday, February 14 and find out how to finish up getting ready before you leave out for your day.

EXTINGUISHING FLAMING ARROWS

Ephesians 6:16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

The shield of faith is a gift of God, as we see in Ephesians 2:8-10 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
If we know this to be true in our own lives , we can face anything that we are called to face. The flaming arrows are the things the world throws at us; things the forces of the devil either want you to believe, do, or receive from others. By faith we walk through the valley of the shadow of death and fear no evil(part of 23rd psalm.
Pray for God to increase your faith and see what happens!

SHOES OF PEACE

Ephesians 6:15 (NIV) and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

In Sunday school as a child you heard this piece of armor referred to as the shoes of peace, and while we all want world peace, that is not the peace that this speaks of. Peace can only come to our hearts through the hearing of the gospel, repentance and submission. When we become a part of God's family through the Lord Jesus Christ, he sends the Holy Spirit to abide in us that imparts to us the peace of God; it imparts a peace that is beyond understanding to the world. (See John 14:23-31)
We could not and cannot create this peace in ourselves because we were separated from God and within ourselves we warred with Him, but Jesus made peace with God for us when He bled and died for our sins of His own accord. (See Col. 1:20)
Note that the verse says 'fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel (good news) of peace'. We were told by Jesus to go into all of the world to preach and teach the good news. (See Matthew 28:18-20) Unless we get ready, how can we go? Unless we are willing to take the first step, how will we do what is asked of us?
Examine yourself, do you have a peace that others in the world outside the body of believers just can't perceive of. If not, re-evaluate your repentance and submission. Maybe you are trying to do it on your own and are still warring within yourself. You can't put on the shoes if they aren't yours to wear.

WITH THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Ephesians 6:14 (NIV) Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,
WITH is a very key word here. In the previous blog we talked about the belt of truth. Anyone can know about the truth of Jesus, but unless that truth is accompanied by His righteousness, it is simply fruitless knowledge. If it were even possible for a sinful man to be righteous outside of Jesus Christ, the commandments would have been the saving factor. No man on earth except Jesus Christ has ever been without sin since the fall from grace of the first man Adam. When we recognize the truth of the gospel and repent from (turn away from) our sin, replacing it with submission to God's will, He then sends the Holy Spirit to abide with us as our council, THEN are we covered not with our righteousness, but with the righteousness of Jesus Christ (See Romans 3:21-27).
There were those in the Bible that recognized the truth and even taught it but were not among those saved by the righteousness of the lamb. See Philippians 1:15-18, Acts 19:13-16. There are those that preach a version of the truth today that are in the same boat with those described, not covered with the righteousness of Christ.
So we see that, unless we have both the word of the gospel of Jesus which is the truth and have that WITH the righteousness of Jesus Christ (or the breastplate of righteousness), we have attained NOTHING.

PUTTING ON THE BELT OF TRUTH

Ephesians 6:14 (NIV) Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, (the King James says 'having your loins girt about with truth)
The concept of the belt of truth as listed in Ephesians is a subject much deeper than one might conceive of at first. If you ask a child who just learned the verse in Sunday School or even a new Christian, what it means to put on the belt of truth, they will come back with the answer, "Well, God wants us to always tell the truth." While it is true that God wants us to always tell the truth, that is not what this scripture is all about.
Let's look at John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. And in John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. We know that the word is God's truth and here we find that it became flesh in Jesus Christ.
You see the truth that we are to put on with the belt of truth is the truth of the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ! He is our truth as Christians.
In the early years of our marriage my husband would ask me what the truth, the real truth about the meaning of things was, and I would say the truth is Jesus. He would look at me with an expression of doubt and go about his business. Sometime later he got baptized, but the question would still come up from time to time and I would answer the same answer and he would respond as he had before. Then on Nov. 17, 2004, Tom received Jesus Christ as his personal savior. Suddenly, like the blind man he could see the truth of the gospel. The Bible was like a brand new book even though he had been reading it all of his life.
My point is this. People have to come to Jesus before they can truly put on the belt that this scripture speaks of because the truth in it is in itself Jesus Christ.

A GOOD WAY TO GET DRESSED

The Bible tells us that we are to take on the whole armor of God so we will be able to stand against evil (see Ephesians 6:13). So, we learn in Church the little drill, reciting each part of the armor and putting it on our bodies. Often we do this without the full knowledge of what doing it really means. When I first decided to write a blog on the armor, I believed it would be one simple blog, but has grown larger than one blog in content. Therefore, I challenge you to read Ephesians 6:10-18 and follow this blog for an eye opening view of the armor of God over the next few weeks. The blog will be posted every other day. I welcome comments and discussion. (I am sure some will comment already on why I am including verses 10, 11, 12 and 18). God bless you all and pray for the Lord's will as we progress in the good race.

CAN YOU BE FOOLED?

Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. James 3:1 (NIV)
As we see in this verse, there is enormous responsibility and consequence for those that teach God's word. To be judged more strictly, you would think, would detour those that are teaching false doctrines and claiming to speak for God while making up their own rules. That is what a sensible person would think; the thought of one who has read the scriptures.
Obviously, there are a lot of non-sensible people in the world. Unless you know the Word for yourself, how will you know the difference. I implore you to study it for yourself so you will not be lead astray because of your naiveté.

DON'T WAIT!
I am very excited today! The idea for a 6 part blog had been developing for a while and this morning I realized it was much bigger in concept than any blog could do justice and still be read. My husband said, "Maybe you are suppose to write a book on it." Clearly, he was right!
So today I start another book that I am so fired up about for the Lord! God told us to make disciples and to teach them; it is part of the great commission. So I challenge you as Christians to do that now. Don't wait, there are so many examples in the news showing us that tomorrow may never come for us, we need to do what God has called us to today!
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20