Monday, July 6, 2020

Servants/ Slaves of God.


Romans 6 English Standard Version (ESV)
Dead to Sin, Alive to God
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self[a] was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free[b] from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Slaves to Righteousness
15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves,[c] you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification.
20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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What kind of servant/slave am I.   One who is willing?  Or just enduring, and if that, how? With complaints and bitterness or do I have Joy?   Am I a slave to Christ in name only?  Saying the words, but going my own way – or seeking Him, and walking in His way out of love for his great gift of forgiven sin, and salvation in Him.

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

Psalm 23 with notes


This below is not my work.  I do not know the one who put this together but I love it.  

The Word of God is eternal, God never changes
But we must choose to let Him

Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd; That's relationship
I shall not want. That's supply
    He makes me lie down in green pastures. That's rest
He leads me beside still waters. That's refreshment
   He restores my soul. That's healing
He leads me in paths of righteousness That's guidance
    for his name's sake. That's purpose
Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,   That's testing
I will fear no evil, That's protection
for you are with me; That's faithfulness
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me. That's discipline
You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies; That's hope
you anoint my head with oil; That's consecration
    my cup overflows. That's abundance
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life, That's blessing
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord That's security
   forever. That's eternity

To change us to be like Him.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Matthew 5


ESV
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
    I feel the word denotes humility. I like the Amplified version
       “Blessed [spiritually prosperous, happy, to be admired] are the poor in spirit 
    [those devoid of spiritual arrogance, those who regard themselves as 
     insignificant],   for theirs is the kingdom of heaven [both now and forever].
“Blessed are those who mourn, {have sore hearts}for they shall be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, {not arrogant} for they shall inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, {a driving need for      righteousness}  for they shall be satisfied.
“Blessed are the merciful, {deep, mindful kindness} for they shall receive              mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, {a deep desire for God} for they shall see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, {those who seek peaceful means of resolving          difficult issues} for they shall be called sons (children) of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the       kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds         of evil against you falsely on my account. 
12  “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven,  for so they 
     persecuted the prophets who were before you.