Comfort
11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Corinthians 13:11
I have seen many things this week that helped remind me of what my place is as a follower of Christ. Paul talks about becoming complete, but what does that actually mean. The above verse gives a pretty good road map and it is interesting that he starts with being of good "comfort". When you think of comfort, do you think what you can do for others or your own comfort? I have been in several uncomfortable situations this week, but I realized I didn't need to participate in those situations, but need to focus on my comfort in Christ. When God allows us to be put in those uncomfortable situations, He really wants you to look at the comfort of others and not ourselves. With comfort comes peace, and isn't that a better way to live? Focus on the comfort that God provides.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, June 29, 2018
Friday, June 22, 2018
Fantastic Friday #633- Freedom
Freedom
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Something about America is very different than a lot of places in this world, and that is the freedom we all experience as citizens of the United States. Now some people might say the freedoms we have are not really freedoms, but I beg to differ. I met with a man this week who reminded me that the Bill of Rights were written not so many years ago and they were written with the guidance of a divine hand. Some might say what are you talking about, but look at the fact that we have freedom of religion along with many other things. If God is who He says he is, and this scripture points to the fact that with the Spirit of the Lord is freedom, then of course His hand was involved. These freedoms from sin, freedom from the enemy and freedom to worship God are all tied together. And as we grow with the Spirit of the Lord in us, we are being transformed as the scripture states and with that comes the ultimate glory. So remember, the true freedom we have is just not in the Bill of Rights, but it lives in us.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Something about America is very different than a lot of places in this world, and that is the freedom we all experience as citizens of the United States. Now some people might say the freedoms we have are not really freedoms, but I beg to differ. I met with a man this week who reminded me that the Bill of Rights were written not so many years ago and they were written with the guidance of a divine hand. Some might say what are you talking about, but look at the fact that we have freedom of religion along with many other things. If God is who He says he is, and this scripture points to the fact that with the Spirit of the Lord is freedom, then of course His hand was involved. These freedoms from sin, freedom from the enemy and freedom to worship God are all tied together. And as we grow with the Spirit of the Lord in us, we are being transformed as the scripture states and with that comes the ultimate glory. So remember, the true freedom we have is just not in the Bill of Rights, but it lives in us.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, June 15, 2018
Fantastic Friday #632 - Home
Home
5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:5-7
Do you feel more comfortable when you are home? When we were away on vacation, while we stayed in some nice places, we did not always feel at home because we did not have all of our stuff. We didn't have our space which at times can be very disconcerting. The same can be said of our time here on earth. Do you sometimes feel not at home here? Maybe it is because you feel like you don't deserve the beauty around us, or you don't feel worthy to be allowed to be here in your own body. God created us for each other and we definitely deserve to be here in His mind. While this is only our temporary home, we do need to make the most of our time here. Don't forget to be kind to others, love others and treat others with respect. These things while here on earth can make us feel as though we are home because we can have faith that God will take care of us. Don't forget to thank God for our home here, and in Heaven and for providing us a way back to Him.
Have a great weekend.
5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:5-7
Do you feel more comfortable when you are home? When we were away on vacation, while we stayed in some nice places, we did not always feel at home because we did not have all of our stuff. We didn't have our space which at times can be very disconcerting. The same can be said of our time here on earth. Do you sometimes feel not at home here? Maybe it is because you feel like you don't deserve the beauty around us, or you don't feel worthy to be allowed to be here in your own body. God created us for each other and we definitely deserve to be here in His mind. While this is only our temporary home, we do need to make the most of our time here. Don't forget to be kind to others, love others and treat others with respect. These things while here on earth can make us feel as though we are home because we can have faith that God will take care of us. Don't forget to thank God for our home here, and in Heaven and for providing us a way back to Him.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, June 8, 2018
Fantastic Friday #631 - Known
Known
9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2: 9-11
Do you know people who think they know it all, that they are the experts? So much sometimes, that even if you get word in edgewise, it is quickly shot down as not being accurate or false altogether. It is amazing how God reveals to those who follow him with their whole heart. He makes known what is unknown, and reveals the answers through His Spirit. We just have to listen to the Spirit, and not act like we know everything, but be calm and relaxed to hear what is being said. By doing this we can make the unknown known. Also, with patience and understanding we can more easily handle those who think they know everything.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
9 But as it is written:
“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2: 9-11
Do you know people who think they know it all, that they are the experts? So much sometimes, that even if you get word in edgewise, it is quickly shot down as not being accurate or false altogether. It is amazing how God reveals to those who follow him with their whole heart. He makes known what is unknown, and reveals the answers through His Spirit. We just have to listen to the Spirit, and not act like we know everything, but be calm and relaxed to hear what is being said. By doing this we can make the unknown known. Also, with patience and understanding we can more easily handle those who think they know everything.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
Friday, June 1, 2018
Fantastic Friday #630 - Share
Share
2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
I know that as people, we tend to keep things to ourselves and work those things out with God on our own. The problem with this is that we are never strong enough to carry or burdens on our own because the enemy regularly beats down on us. While leaning into Christ is the main answer, we also should seek out help from others to help guide us through whatever difficulty we might be going through. When you have help carrying the burden, it becomes lighter and we can see the power of Christ work through each other.
Have a great weekend.
2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
I know that as people, we tend to keep things to ourselves and work those things out with God on our own. The problem with this is that we are never strong enough to carry or burdens on our own because the enemy regularly beats down on us. While leaning into Christ is the main answer, we also should seek out help from others to help guide us through whatever difficulty we might be going through. When you have help carrying the burden, it becomes lighter and we can see the power of Christ work through each other.
Have a great weekend.
Matt
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