Dear Lord God, practicing Your presence in all things is on my mind and heart today; not feeling anxious or fearful about what tomorrow will bring, but focused on Your will and doing the best I can where ever You place me, is and I think it has always been my goal. But under the sun we are surrounded by wolves that feed off of weaker and or gentler spirits. So I see the road ahead divides into to paths, and as the poem goes one is well traveled, the other is narrower and far less traveled.
Then I read today’s Selling Among Wolves article titled Poor Wise Men Have No Voice – where Ecc 9:16 is quoted "Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.” The article goes on to say, ‘We are called to excellence; and when we excel we will experience financial reward. Yes, Jesus was our example and yes, He did suffer unimaginably. He told us that the servant is not above the master and we should expect that all who live godly will suffer persecution. But is that the whole counsel of God on the matter? I think not. Jesus walked among us for 33 years. He didn’t come to set up a business. He came to save the world. And yet, how much of that time was spent suffering? It certainly wasn’t His daily lifestyle.’ As motivational as this sounds, I cannot help but it seems to be missing something. I mean excellence and financial reward do not always go together under the sun. But excellence just for Your sake is, doing my best for You Lord God and loving and care for those spirits You put in my path must be reward enough. If You choose to bless me with the rewards under the sun, then that to is a gift from You.
I am drawn to verses 5:41-42 of Matthew ".. if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously." Under the sun I think true excellence for You Lord God is being able to give all in the secular world, knowing that we will not always receive our reward under the sun, and some times the wolves will take our reward as theirs. But to continue to pursue excellence knowing this, is excellence in itself. O Lord that You would continue Your work within me, open my eyes and heart to knew secrets and truths, and help me to be excellent for You alone! In Jesus name I ask and pray, Amen.
God fashioned man with his own hands [that is, the Son and the Holy Spirit] and impressed his own form on the flesh he had fashioned, in such a way that even what was visible might bear the divine form.
— St. Irenaeus
22 The crowd joined in attacking them; and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. 23 And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. 24 Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. 25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and every one’s fetters were unfastened. 27 When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and brought them out and said, "Men, what must I do to be saved?" 31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." 32 And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all that were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he was baptized at once, with all his family. 34 Then he brought them up into his house, and set food before them; and he rejoiced with all his household that he had believed in God.
1 I give thee thanks, O LORD, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing thy praise; 2 I bow down toward thy holy temple and give thanks to thy name for thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness; for thou hast exalted above everything thy name and thy word. 3 On the day I called, thou didst answer me, my strength of soul thou didst increase. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou dost preserve my life; thou dost stretch out thy hand against the wrath of my enemies, and thy right hand delivers me. 8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; thy steadfast love, O LORD, endures for ever. Do not forsake the work of thy hands.
Bible Study: [Psalm 138] Of David – A thanksgiving to God, who came to the rescue of the psalmist. Divine rescue was not the result of the psalmist’s virtues but of God’s loving fidelity (Psalm 138:1-3). The act is not a private transaction but a public act that stirs the surrounding nations to praise God’s greatness and care for the people (Psalm 138:4-6). The psalmist, having experienced salvation, trusts that God will always be there in moments of danger (Psalm 138:7-8).
5 But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
Bible Study: [5] Not one of you asks me: the difficulty of reconciling this with Simon Peter’s question in John 13:36 and Thomas’ words in John 14:5 strengthens the supposition that the last discourse has been made up of several collections of Johannine material. [8-11] These verses illustrate the forensic character of the Paraclete’s role: in the forum of the disciples’ conscience he prosecutes the world. He leads believers to see (a) that the basic sin was and is refusal to believe in Jesus; (b) that, although Jesus was found guilty and apparently died in disgrace, in reality righteousness has triumphed, for Jesus has returned to his Father; (c) finally, that it is the ruler of this world, Satan, who has been condemned through Jesus’ death (John 12:32).
/ raangulo
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