Fantastic Friday #1063 - Peace

Peace

17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21

The nastiness that pervades our society is something that we are more aware of because of how we obtain our information and how we communicate. People are braver behind a computer screen or phone than they are face-to-face. Maybe that is because when you look at someone in the face, you see the God-created individual who is a person created in the image of God. I am not saying that evil and nastiness has not always been around, I am just saying it is easier to hide behind a screen when you don't see the end result of your nasty behavior. God was pretty specific in His Word about being at peace with everyone. Not just your friend or family member, but with everyone. It is not up to us to punish or chastise others for their behavior, it is up to us to love everyone and be at peace. Our world can be a dark place with the world telling us it is ok to be mean and nasty, but in the end that will lead to evil, which is just what the enemy wants. Let us focus on overcoming that evil with good and being kind and at peace. Before you say something mean and nasty, think about what kind of impact that will have on the person on the other end of that screen, then picture their face that was created in the image of God.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #1062 - Sustain

Sustain

4 Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

5 “With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
To whom will you liken me that we may be compared? Isaiah 46:4-5

Do you find it hard sometimes to sustain a positive self attitude, or sustain a path of righteousness? A lot of times this is due to us relying only on our own willpower and not relying on our Lord and Savior. Society tells us that we don't need anyone for anything, that we can do it all on our own. This is where we fail in many of our efforts to sustain good momentum in our life. God describes in this scripture how He will carry and sustain us, and will also rescue us. How easy would it be for us if we only remembered to allow God to sustain us. Let Him who laid down His son's life for us and rescued us from sin, carry us forward into a positive self attitude and path of righteousness. Be sustained through the power of God who already promised this.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #1061 - Faith

Faith


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. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:6-8


Why is it so hard to live by faith? We have challenges in our life almost every single day, and sometimes there are multiple challenges that can make us anxious and worry. God wants us to work through these challenges with a faith in Him, and that He will provide the path to getting through these challenges, but we are sinful people and think that we need to do it all ourselves. I can't tell you how many times I have told myself, I can do this, I can make it through this, but it always ends in heartache and worry. If I would take that first step to rely on Jesus and faith in Him, the heartache and worry may still be there in some form, but I know that He is getting me through it. I know that when I rely on Him, there is a calmness that overtakes me and lifts me up in times of struggle. When the enemy wants me to take the path to my past, God is right there to remind me of who I am in Christ. We don't want to live a life that is absent from God and certainly don't want an eternity without God. So, whatever you are struggling with in your life, however big or small, lean in and rely on God and His righteousness, have Faith.


Have a great weekend.


Matt