#faith action humility service attention understanding grace mercy forgiveness judgement repentance wholeness destiny purpose

[mylordmyfriend]

Faith In Action ‘Humility And Service’

Jesus used the occasion of the banquet {in Luke 7 to 14} to give insight into humility and services. Jesus addressed the guest regarding humility and He spoke to the host about serving others.

In those days the closer you sat to the host, the higher you stood in the social ladder, and the more attention you would receive from others. I sure in some people thinking that is the same today.

Naturally people rushed to the most important place to be seen. This kind of attitude betrays a false view of success.

Humility is a fundamental grace of a Christian life.and yet it is elusive. If we know we have it we have lost it! It is well said that humility is not thinking meaningly of ourselves. It is simply not thinking of ourselves at all. Our Lord and Our Friend is the greatest example of humility, and we would do well to ask the Holy Spirit to help and enable us to imitate that.

Our motives for serving others must be the praise of God, and not the applause of people. We must care more about our eternal destiny and not just the temporal recognition on earth.

We are important in God’s eyes that is why He sent His Son, to pay a price we could not pay. So that any ‘Whosoever’ can come into the understanding and relationship in Him, He has for us.

On the day of judgement, many who today are first in the eyes of men will be last in the eyes of God.

Humility is said to be bridled strength. It comes from knowing who you are in Him.

God Bless.

OFJ

[mylordmyfriend]

Faith In Action ‘Doing What Is Right’

A reflection on Hidden wrong-doings {sins}  from Joshua Chapter 7 verse 20 to 21.

V 20 "Achan replied to Joshua, "it is true. I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I did."

V21" when I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Babylon, 200 silver shekels, a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, I coveted them and took them. you can see for yourself, they are concealed in the ground inside my tent, with the money under the cloak."

Achan had the sin of covetousness, which lead him to another sin of stealing.

Covet means: to want something enviously or eagerly, especially something belonging to someone else.

The book of Joshua is in the Old Testament and the Old Testament is covered by The ten Commandments.

The tenth commandment; You shall not covet your neighbors house, your neighbors wife or processions.

The eight commandment ; you shall not steal.

Joshua had just conquered Jericho {remember the walls that came tumbling down} which was a complete victory with The Lord help. Joshua now set his sights on Ai, however Joshua and his army were ambushed by the people of Ai.

Joshua turned and listen to the Lord to find out why things went so wrong. Joshua listens and hears that the anger of the Lord was against them, because after the battle of Jericho, someone had stolen forbidden plunder from the city. {Joshua 7 verse 10 to 12]

An inquiry revealed Achan was to blame. Achan admits his guilt and suffers the punishment for his guilt.

This story is clear in it's purpose to explain one person's offense has wider consequences. Greed is not just private and personal, it always effects community. a story like this should make us more alert of our responsibilities to our communities we belong to and effect.

We can all bring about change if we listen to Our Lord and Our Friend. Things can hold us back, but remember 1 John 1 verse 9:

"If we confess our sins. He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Again remember once we have accepted Christ Jesus, we have a clean slate, but we are still sinners {only now sinners saved by grace}.

Keep short accounts with Our Lord and Our Friend, so our work for Him will not be hindered.

Read the story about Achan in the book of Joshua and enjoy for yourself.

God Bless

O F J

[mylordmyfriend]

Faith In Action ‘Two Directions’

Psalm 1: The two by Browse to Save">directions.

“How happy is the man who does not follow the advice of the wicked?”   [holman study bible]

“Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly” [king James version]

The word happy, “blessedness of” refers to the joy and satisfaction that comes from knowing that one is right with God, even though at times conflict with the world may bring disagreements.

The poem written on our first post “Oh what it is`to be a Christian” refers to this kind of Happiness [blessedness of knowing]

The second part of this verse “the advice of the wicked” [hsb]

“Not the counsel of the ungodly” [kjv]

We need the advice of unbelievers through life on technical issues, such as doctors and lawyers [not all doctors and lawyers are unbelievers just examples of people we may need advice from] But with the things pertaining to God, moral issues, and faithfulness we need more than just the counsel of man. We need that joy and satisfaction that comes from knowing Him.

From the poem again: “the light real Christians follow is the everlasting Presence of God”.

Don’t be confused; the ‘happy’ refered to in the first translation [hsb]

is ‘thye blessed’ in the [kjv]

Comes from the original Hebrew ‘esher, [eh’-sher] happiness, which literally means we have the Blessed assurance of who He is and that He will never leave us or forsake us.

Think about that over your morning coffee, think about that over those stress inducing moments, think about that when the giants around you rear their ugly heads and try to beat you into submission. He will never leave you or forsake you.

So today be Happy, and hold onto that blessed assurance of who he is!

God Bless

OFJ