Following Jesus’ example is not meant to be optional for Christians; it is to be a way of life (Acts 11:26) that boldly identifies with Christ (Mark 8:34) and reflects His character. This is not entirely possible without spending time in God’s Word because that is the one place where we actually see what Jesus would do. By studying God’s Word for ourselves and praying that God would help us apply it to our lives, we invite the Holy Spirit to guide us in Jesus’ steps and develop His character in us (John 14:25-26; 17:12-15).
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
REQUESTS, PRAYERS, INTERCESSION … FOR EVERYONE / 1 TIMOTHY 2:1-3
As followers of Christ, it is our responsibility and privilege to pray for people, particularly those around us – family, friends, and leaders (1 Timothy 2:2). This is God’s desire (1 Timothy 2:3) because our prayers are instrumental in bringing others into a spiritually saving personal relationship with Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:4).
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
“Sanctify” means to make holy (morally and spiritually pure, whole, separated from evil and dedicated to God) and to separate or set apart (for God’s purposes). The evening before His death, Jesus prays that His disciples will be holy people. He prays for them to be separated from evil in the world for the purpose of worshiping and serving God and fulfilling His purposes on earth. They must be set apart in order to be in a close relationship with a holy God, to live for Him and to be like Him. The Holy Spirit accomplishes this process of sanctification as Jesus’ followers devote themselves to living by the truth revealed to them by the Spirit (John 14:17; 16:13). The truth is both the living Word of God (Jesus John 1:1) and the written Word of God as revealed in the Bible.
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
(KJV) Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
YOUR WORD IS … A LIGHT FOR MY PATH / PSALMS 119:105
God’s Word contains the spiritual principles that will help us avoid many sorrows, pitfalls and tragedies brought on by wrong decisions and choices. For this reason, we must treasure its wisdom and apply it in all of life’s situations (Psalms 119:106, 112). It will never fail to guide us in the right direction.
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
COME NOW, LET US REASON / ISAIAH 1:18
God did not want to condemn and destroy His people. He offered full forgiveness and complete pardon if they would only repent (“change their mind” and admit the error of their own ways, turn away from doing evil and return to God) and truly seek to do right and obey His Word (Isaiah 1:16-19). God’s forgiveness is now available for all who confess their sins, repent, and accept the spiritual cleansing God provides through the blood of Jesus Christ (Luke 24:46-47; 1 John 1:9), who willingly gave His perfect life to pay the penalty for our rebellion against God.
Those who refuse God’s mercy and stubbornly choose to keep going their own way will be destroyed in the end (Isaiah 1:20).
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
(KJV) Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSEHOLD, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD / JOSHUA 24:15
God invites all people to have a personal relationship with Him, but He does not force Himself on us. He gives us a choice, and we all decide for ourselves whom we will follow in life. As with Joshua and the Israelites, serving the Lord is not simply a one-time choice (Joshua 1:16-18; Deuteronomy 30:19-20). Those who follow God must continually make the choice to pursue His plans and do what is right. That requires a deep reverence for God, a firm commitment to His truth, a sincere desire to fulfill His goals for your life and a strong determination to resist the appeal of sin (Joshua 24:14-16). Failing to choose to love and serve God will eventually result in judgment and destruction (Joshua 24:20; 23:11-13).
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
(KJV) Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
SUBMIT … TO THE GOVERINING AUTHORITIES / ROMANS 13:1
God commands Christians to respect and obey those in government as an institution established by God. He has instituted governments because in an ungodly and disorderly world people need certain restraints to protect them from the chaos and lawlessness that is a natural result in sin.
The civil government, just like all of life, is subject to God’s law.
God has determined that governments should be agents of justice that restrain evil by punishing offenders and protecting the good in society (Romans 13:3-4; 1 Peter 2:13-17).
Paul describes government as it should be. When it abandons its proper function, however, it ceases to operate according to God’s purpose. For example, when government requires something contrary to God’s Word, Christians must obey God rather than other humans (Acts 5:29; Daniel 3:16-18; 6:6-10). Yet, even when government officials themselves are not following God, Christians, in most cases, are still required to handle themselves graciously and respectfully toward their leaders. Paul demonstrated this behavior in many direct encounters with government and religious leaders (Acts 22:22-29; 23:1-11; 24-26).
It is the duty of all Christians to pray for those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
(KJV) Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
THE WORD OF GOD / Hebrews 4:12
The conjunction “for” connects this verse directly to Hebrews 4:11. We enter into God’s rest by submitting to the complete examination and deep spiritual surgery that comes from exposure to God’s Word. God’s Word is anything that God speaks. It is the expression of the character, desires and purposes of God Himself. We have God’s Word conveyed to us in written form through the Bible. This Word, throughout both the Old Testament and New Testament, is dynamic, active and ultimately effective in accomplishing God’s purposes. It is like a sharp sword that cuts into our innermost being in order to discern whether our thoughts and motives are worthy or unworthy, spiritual or unspiritual. Like a surgeon’s scalpel, it cuts away the spiritual corruption from our lives and brings healing, and life to those who submit to the Word in faith. Yet, kike a warrior’s sword, God’s Word brings judgment and destruction on those who openly turn from and defy it (John 6:63; 12:48).
DIVIDING SOUL AND SPIRIT
God’s Word can penetrate our lives and inner beings so precisely that it discerns and defines the obscure dividing line between “soul” and “spirit.” “Soul” (Greek psyche) refers to our inner life aside from our spiritual experience – our life in relation to ourselves (our emotions, thoughts, desires, choices). “Spirit” (Greek pneuma) here means the human spirit; in the New Testament this refers to the spiritual dimension of our being – our life in relation to God (Romans 8:10). God’s Word awakens and strengthens His life in our spirit, and it exposes our own “soulishness” (our own motives and desires) when that part of us conflicts with the life that God is developing within our spirit. By willingly submitting to God’s life-penetrating Word, our hearts will be softened and changed so that we can truly take on godly character traits and experience peace and rest with Him. The alternative is to allow our hearts to become hardened against God’s Word. This is when we lose faith and find ourselves condemned by the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12-13 remind us of the seriousness of our choices when responding to God and His Word.
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
BURIED WITH HIM THROUGH BAPTISM / ROMANS 6:4
Baptism in water for a Christian is a symbol of his or her identification with Christ. Baptism, which literally means to be immersed (being put completely under the water) also symbolizes a spiritual cleansing. It is an outward physical act that represents an inner spiritual reality: God’s gift of forgiveness and salvation has been accepted and the person publicly identifies with Jesus Christ in His death and burial (going under the water) and is united with Him in His resurrected life (Romans 6:4-5). When accompanied by true faith, baptism is a sign of the believer’s rejection of sin and full commitment to Christ. That commitment results in a continual flow of God’s grace (His undeserved favor, love and enabling power) and His life to us (Acts 22:16). As surely as Christ rose from the dead, so those who truly follow Him will have the power to live a new life (Romans 6:5).
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
SURROUNDED THE CAMP OF GOD’S PEOPLE / REVELATION 20:9
The battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16; 19:19) is not the final conflict of good and evil. One last battle at the end of the millennium will seal the eternal doom of Satan and his followers. Nations will be deceived into marching against and surrounding Jerusalem, intent on being free from Christ’s rule. Like the confrontation at the beginning of the millennium, this battle is not much of a contest and the outcome is never in doubt. God will intervene, and the rebels will be destroyed by fire. His judgment will result in their total destruction.
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!
Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter
Websites store cookies to enhance functionality and personalise your experience. You can manage your preferences, but blocking some cookies may impact site performance and services.
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
Name
Description
Duration
Cookie Preferences
This cookie is used to store the user's cookie consent preferences.
30 days
Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us understand how visitors use our website.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that tracks and analyzes website traffic for informed marketing decisions.
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
