Still Going

Still Going

Colossians 1: ⁶ The gospel keeps bringing blessings and is spreading throughout the world, just as it has among you ever since the day you first heard about the grace of God and came to know it as it really is. ⁷ You learned of God's grace from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is Christ's faithful worker on our behalf. ⁸ He has told us of the love that the Spirit has given you.

 

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Everything seemed to be going wrong on this particular trip. We got picked up extremely late, got lost and when we arrived, no one was there. It seemed like the opportunity had passed to share our message. But after a while, people started showing up. Little by little , the room was full. My doubt turned to hope.

 

• I was feeling discouraged.
• I asked GOD “Why did all these obstacles happen if YOU wanted me to do what I was doing?”
• I saw the condition of the world and it seemed hopeless to spread the Gospel.

 

Despite what people thought, “the Gospel keeps bringing blessings and is spreading throughout the world” Paul said. Though he and others faced hardships and may have sometimes felt like giving up, the Gospel was still going.

 

My Observations

• Sometimes I may be blinded by my circumstances, BUT GOD’s message of love is still going.
• Sometimes I may think no one is listening to GOD anymore, BUT GOD has plenty of listeners.
• Sometimes I may be troubled by my own sin, BUT GOD’s grace reigns supreme.

 

Grace is hard to imaging when calamity is present. I mean, when things seem to be going wrong all over the place, I may get discouraged and think GOD isn’t there or does not care. This is a lie I am happy GOD does not leave me in.

 

Instead, HE gave me the HOLY SPIRIT as my comforter, who lives inside me. My pain and sorrow turns into a testimony of GOD’s grace that is powerful enough to draw people to HIM. I am grateful GOD’s grace is still going, providing blessings and is more powerful that ever!

 

Challenge

• What blessings is the writer speaking of?
• Have you listened to the news and felt like abandoning GOD?
• Will you stand firm on your faith in CHRIST and be encouraged that GOD is still blessing you and others despite the news of the day?

Courage for Duty

 

Courage for Duty

Philippians 1: ²⁰ My deep desire and hope is that I shall never fail in my duty, but that at all times, and especially right now, I shall be full of courage, so that with my whole being I shall bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

 

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“Why are you doing that?” some people questioned. “You could get sick or even die” was the escalated statement that made me nervous, but I felt led to go on the missions trip anyway.

 

• Going someplace outside my comfort zone did not make sense.
• Leaving a place where everything was alright seemed counterintuitive.
• Doing difficult things for GOD instead of easy things for myself seemed out of the ordinary.

 

Paul gave up everything to serve GOD. He had status, power and was probably very wealthy being a Pharisee of Pharisees. JESUS changed his life and now his deepest desire was to carry out the duties that bring honor to CHRIST.

 

My Observations

• Life serving GOD can get scary, especially when the evil one presents alternatives.
• Unknown paths look fearful BUT GOD wants me to walk with HIM down them.
• Faithful service may sometimes seem fruitless, BUT GOD wants me to have courage to continue.

 

“Keep going” are words that seem hard to do sometimes. I mean, when I feel “discouraged” I want to give up. Problem after problem after problem makes me think there is no relief in sight. BUT GOD says “Be strong and of good courage.”

 

GOD knows the future and HE knows why HE has me serving HIM. HE sees the adversary and has taken his tactics into account. No matter what happens, GOD wants me to keep my sense of duty to HIM. I gladly serve GOD, because I have no other place that provides refuge like HIM.

 

Challenge

• What is the writer’s duty?
• Have you ever been led to serve GOD even though it may seem scary?
• Will you be “encouraged” to have “courage” to keep going so your service my “bring honor to CHRIST” today?

With All Confidence

 

With All Confidence

Ephesians 3: God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages, ¹⁰ in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms. ¹¹ God did this according to his eternal purpose, which he achieved through Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In union with Christ and through our faith in him we have the boldness to go into God's presence with all confidence. ¹³ I beg you, then, not to be discouraged because I am suffering for you; it is all for your benefit.

 

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Evaluating what I had done on the previous day, I could not think of a specific “sin” that warranted this type of disaster. Everything had gone wrong this particular day and I asked GOD, “What’s going on?” in a “Why me” sort of fashion.

 

• I thought I could control GOD by sinning less.
• I thought my sins would get a reaction out of GOD, causing HIM to punish me.
• I thought I was the cause of the disaster because maybe I overlooked a sin.

 

GOD’s plan was immense and hidden until JESUS was revealed. Paul wrote about this huge plan that was laid out and executed by GOD. Redemption happened through JESUS, making the impossible, possible. Sin could no longer stop anyone from going into GOD’s presence to ask for anything and to be forgiven.

 

My Observations

• GOD’s power is far greater than I can something “I” can harness.
• GOD’s wisdom is manifested in many forms I can see daily.
• GOD’s purpose cannot be stopped, even by some sins I do or not do.

 

Thinking I am in control of GOD makes me lose my confidence. I mean, When I want things to go a specific way, I may try to act “good” during the period of time I am seeking my desire. Unfortunately, if I get what I want, I sometimes forget that the blessing came from GOD and return to sinful ways.

 

BUT GOD saw this fickle behavior and added it to HIS plan, HE knew HE needed something fool proof. Redemption needed to be permanent and indestructible. When JESUS was raised from the dead, HE opened the door to the FATHER to anyone who will walk in. I am glad I can confidently go to the FATHER because of what JESUS did for me.

 

Challenge

• Who is the focus of the writer?
• Have you ever been discouraged, thinking you were the problem?
• Will you praise GOD for HIS eternal purpose and walk into HIS presence because JESUS made a way to HIM for you?

 

 

Encouragement Assignment

 Encouragement Assignment

2 Corinthians 4: God in his mercy has given us this work to do, and so we do not become discouraged. ² We put aside all secret and shameful deeds; we do not act with deceit, nor do we falsify the word of God. In the full light of truth we live in God's sight and try to commend ourselves to everyone's good conscience.

 

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Things seemed to be going wrong all over the place. My life had become fodder for a sad song. I looked at the world as if it owed me an answer to the question “Why me?’ I was thinking this as I walked back to the dorm in the wee hours or the morning.

 

“Would you like to go to church with us?” was the horrifying question asked to me. They did not realize I was just getting in as they were going out! “No thank you” I replied. I  wrestled with that decision the rest of the day.

 

• My life was centered on me.
• Even my service to others was based on me.
• My “me-centered” world had more downs than ups.

 

“GOD in HS mercy has given us this work to do” is something amazing Paul states to everyone. He even says that people can put aside things that would be disgraceful and turn to something with true value.

 

My Observations

• GOD saw my shameful sins and chose me to be HIS messenger anyway.
• GOD wants me to keep HIS word true and focused on JESUS.
• GOD wants me to think about others so I can serve in HIS sight well, while also serving people in good conscience.

 

Encouraging people when I am down seems ridiculous. I mean, when I feel like I need to be served, GOD gives me “work to do.” But what if I’m on empty or broke? GOD doesn’t want me to be phony about my pain. But HE does want me to live my life with purpose.

 

HE lets me see other people who are in pain so I can encourage them to see HIM. Encouraging others, encourages me. It give me the ability to lay aside hidden sin and satisfies the urge to have the “Why me?’ question answered. I am glad GOD gives me purpose  and I hope all who read are encouraged!

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer use “mercy” when describing what GOD did?
• Have you ever been discouraged and someone popped into your life who needed encouragement?
• What is your life’s purpose?
• Will you accept GOD’s assignment and look beyond your current circumstances to encourage someone today?

Guarding the Fruit

Matthew 13: ¹⁸ “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: ¹⁹ When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. ²⁰ The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. ²¹ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ²² The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²³ But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

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People got on my nerves discussing the Bible. I had not read it and did not understand what was said in it. “Trust in the LORD” people would quote. “What about my needs right now? I would quote back this was a bad path.

Every once in a while I would attend church, especially when things were going wrong. I would hear some music, cry a little and feel better after service only to disappear for months on end. This was rocky ground.

When I started attending church regularly, I finally fit in. I would sit and listen for a couple of hours but would act different on the very next day, sometimes the next hour. My worries about finances and other aspects of life would creep in and there was no way I would talk about CHRIST.

• GOD wants me to seek not only HIS word but HIS SPIRIT.
• GOD wants me to plant my roots deep in HIM so my relationship with HIM is everlasting.
• GOD wants me to clip the thorns of life on a daily basis by quieting down and listening to HIM.

Yielding fruit is the most important thing I can do, according to this passage. It requires understanding and purposeful relationships that bring people to GOD.

• Do you lack understanding of GOD?
• Do you pop in and out of church, meanwhile wondering why your life is not on track?
• Do you worry about life’s difficulties or financial woes?
• Can you stop your lack of understanding by seeking GOD’s kingdom to purposefully bring people to HIM?

You Can Do It!

Psalm:110 ¹ The Lord says to my lord:

“Sit at my right hand
    until I make your enemies
    a footstool for your feet.”

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As I said my first “bad word” I looked around to see if anyone heard me. Some people giggled others still did not notice me. I could curse! As I looked at the opposite sex as objects, people welcomed me in their conversations. I could lust! As I reached in someone else’s bank and removed a few coins to get ice cream I made my escape and came into the house with a brand new Popsicle. My parents noticed and I got torn apart for that. Okay, I couldn’t steal.

• Sometimes I think I can get away with sin and sometimes I think I will feel consequences.
• Sometimes I think GOD is mad at me because I have sinned.
• Sometimes I think I am being punished by GOD because I was born with a sin nature.

Name the sin and I have probably done it or thought about it. Sometimes it seems like sin is winning and I am losing. I mean can’t I just walk the earth sinless the rest of my life? Why won’t GOD just give me the ability to become a superhero, fighting sin and remaining pure? GOD had another thought.

• GOD said to me “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
• GOD said to me “Sin is your enemy and it has condemned you to death, so I will die in your place.”
• GOD said to me “It is finished, I have forgiven you of all your sin, no human can pluck you out of MY hand.”

When I looked around, all of my enemies were defeated. Sometimes they don’t seem that way, but they really are. GOD said “MY grace is sufficient for you, for MY power is made perfect in weakness.” Sin weakens me and every human except one, namely JESUS. HIS death, burial and resurrection gives me power over my enemies that are already defeated!

• Do you feel discouraged?
• Do you feel defeated?
• Can you get back up and see that the LORD is good?
• Will you stop focusing on yourself for a minute and know that GOD has defeated your enemies?