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| Are we the lovely garden or more like the impassable swamp? |
We must go to Christ and receive that forgiveness as "the forgiven sinner", and offer our lives
to Him by faith. By that grace of God, we are enabled to overcome all the flaws in our
character.
John
8:28-29 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you
will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as my Father
taught Me, I speak these things.
Jesus ‘
behavior was drawn directly from God the Father.
We find this spoken by Paul the apostle: In Ephesians 4:15-16 Amplified Bible: . . . rather let our lives lovingly express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love....let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him who is the head [even] - Christ -(the Messiah) the Anointed One 16 For because of Him the
whole body ( the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] working properly [ in all its functions] grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
Properly understood, we thrive in the right place when the ground is cultivated, weeds and rocks are removed and the ground made ready for plants to grow strong and have a life of beauty! As the garden takes work and much time, so do we as the born-again believer grow and become what God intended!
In this regeneration of the old man into the New Man, we receive Jesus as Lord and then tend to that garden of His word tilling it into our hearts. With daily work in mind, we remember too that it takes time to get that growth that is revealed in a harvest of God's love for others. Being edified, we are strengthened internally. Our heart is groomed with the words of faith that strengthen the daily walk through this life!
There are traits of the worldly walk that many of us have seen in that we walked the way of the world before being saved by the blood of Jesus. Those traits are summed up in one word: futility. What makes up futility is emptiness, no purpose for life. The second is that it is alienation from God. The third is they reside in darkness with no understanding of Him or His love. The fourth is ignorance of His ways and that ignorance is a hardened state or hardened heart! The fourth is this: an unfeeling state. They cease to care. They do not value anything that has life!
While working on this was reminded of a song done by Don Henley in the 1980's 'Dirty Laundry". It was given in the lyrics as living off the evening news. It voiced a kicking people when they are up or when they are down!
Overcoming the flaws in our character is to live and love others as Jesus did! He neither gossiped nor kicked someone when they were down. If they were leprous, He healed them. If they were blind, He healed them!
Looking into God's word, we find illumination of that which God requires, we also find what the instruction is, and then we are to apply it to our lives. So it is to be a constant and yes, close communication with Jesus our Lord to see as He sees. And in this we find His grace, that ability to discern those 'flaws' and overcome them.
When thinking toward what God requires, I always think of Cain and Abel. You have two brothers with two different ways of thinking. You have Abel who viewed God's way the right way to live and obeyed God with the right sacrifice that God required. Then you have Cain who viewed his way the right way to live. And he refused to give the living sacrifice God required, but gave from his field that he had planted. He was doing things to suit himself and not God!
Instruction for our character is given by God throughout the Bible.
Proverbs 13:15 NKJV 15 Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard. I like the Amplified Bible's version of this verse: Proverbs 13:15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard [ like the barren, dry soil or the impassable swamp].
Good understanding is important to what is true and to live by it. Today we have the example of people living by their wants, that is, their desire is empty and without any beauty to it!
WE can teach the word and minister it or give it to the youth so they learn to live by it. But you certainly would not let them, the youth, lead a corporate business with 3, 000 employees without that ability to do it. God's wisdom is important for us. But there is the process of allowing His word to have its way in our lives and to live by it that when we move into a situation, our character should be one of beauty and not a hazard looking for some place to happen!
Faithful to teach others, and faithful to live by that same word will create in each of us that which opens doors of opportunity.
You may know a really smart person who may know without a doubt the workings of many creative programs for an internet program but they may have the 'potty' mouth that pushes others away. They may represent themselves as the 'be all' for that kind of creative process.
Our daughter had a friend in high school who had bought an older car, but he really desired to have it painted. His parents refused to help out in that department and even though he worked at a job outside of school, they still refused to help him. He came to us and asked if he might borrow the money just to paint it and help keep it from rusting. We had known him for awhile and spent time talking with him and getting to know his heart. He was faithful in his job and faithful to go to school. He was smart in his schoolwork and he had no 'potty' mouth! To my husband and me, it seemed fair to do to this for one who had a heart to make it better.
Properly understood, we thrive in the right place when the ground is cultivated, weeds and rocks are removed and the ground made ready for plants to grow strong and have a life of beauty! As the garden takes work and much time, so do we as the born-again believer grow and become what God intended!
In this regeneration of the old man into the New Man, we receive Jesus as Lord and then tend to that garden of His word tilling it into our hearts. With daily work in mind, we remember too that it takes time to get that growth that is revealed in a harvest of God's love for others. Being edified, we are strengthened internally. Our heart is groomed with the words of faith that strengthen the daily walk through this life!
There are traits of the worldly walk that many of us have seen in that we walked the way of the world before being saved by the blood of Jesus. Those traits are summed up in one word: futility. What makes up futility is emptiness, no purpose for life. The second is that it is alienation from God. The third is they reside in darkness with no understanding of Him or His love. The fourth is ignorance of His ways and that ignorance is a hardened state or hardened heart! The fourth is this: an unfeeling state. They cease to care. They do not value anything that has life!
While working on this was reminded of a song done by Don Henley in the 1980's 'Dirty Laundry". It was given in the lyrics as living off the evening news. It voiced a kicking people when they are up or when they are down!
Overcoming the flaws in our character is to live and love others as Jesus did! He neither gossiped nor kicked someone when they were down. If they were leprous, He healed them. If they were blind, He healed them!
Looking into God's word, we find illumination of that which God requires, we also find what the instruction is, and then we are to apply it to our lives. So it is to be a constant and yes, close communication with Jesus our Lord to see as He sees. And in this we find His grace, that ability to discern those 'flaws' and overcome them.
When thinking toward what God requires, I always think of Cain and Abel. You have two brothers with two different ways of thinking. You have Abel who viewed God's way the right way to live and obeyed God with the right sacrifice that God required. Then you have Cain who viewed his way the right way to live. And he refused to give the living sacrifice God required, but gave from his field that he had planted. He was doing things to suit himself and not God!
Instruction for our character is given by God throughout the Bible.
Proverbs 13:15 NKJV 15 Good understanding gains favor, But the way of the unfaithful is hard. I like the Amplified Bible's version of this verse: Proverbs 13:15 Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard [ like the barren, dry soil or the impassable swamp].
Good understanding is important to what is true and to live by it. Today we have the example of people living by their wants, that is, their desire is empty and without any beauty to it!
WE can teach the word and minister it or give it to the youth so they learn to live by it. But you certainly would not let them, the youth, lead a corporate business with 3, 000 employees without that ability to do it. God's wisdom is important for us. But there is the process of allowing His word to have its way in our lives and to live by it that when we move into a situation, our character should be one of beauty and not a hazard looking for some place to happen!
Faithful to teach others, and faithful to live by that same word will create in each of us that which opens doors of opportunity.
You may know a really smart person who may know without a doubt the workings of many creative programs for an internet program but they may have the 'potty' mouth that pushes others away. They may represent themselves as the 'be all' for that kind of creative process.
Our daughter had a friend in high school who had bought an older car, but he really desired to have it painted. His parents refused to help out in that department and even though he worked at a job outside of school, they still refused to help him. He came to us and asked if he might borrow the money just to paint it and help keep it from rusting. We had known him for awhile and spent time talking with him and getting to know his heart. He was faithful in his job and faithful to go to school. He was smart in his schoolwork and he had no 'potty' mouth! To my husband and me, it seemed fair to do to this for one who had a heart to make it better.
He got his car painted and began to repay the expense. He is the example of one who was consistent in learning at school, doing his homework, keeping his job for that paycheck, and was showing the characteristic of the responsible person who lives and works with a consistent behavior.
Proverbs 13:16 Amplified Bible Every prudent man deals with knowledge, but a [self-confident] fool expresses and flaunts his own folly.
These are those who flaunt 'free love', marry on whim, and then divorce a short time later. The 'fool' certainly speaks his mind and will yell it out by interrupting a formal meeting. Everything they have a mind to speak will be given out whether others are ready for it or not. The self-confident express with many words. They talk too much!
It is like they vomit on another person by the built up hate and bitterness they guard in their hearts.
Proverbs 10:19 ESV states: when words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
And Matthew 12:36 ESV states this: I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.
We will give an account of every careless word that we speak. We are to grow up into unity with Jesus Christ. May we put on the behavior that is merciful,
and tenderhearted. For it is in gentleness
and patience that you and I have the
power to endure whatever comes, with good temper. Maturing is fore bearing with
each other and if having any grievance with another person, are readily active
to pardon each other. The Lord has freely forgiven us, so we also must forgive!
Cautious should our speaking be, may our words be what Jesus spoke. It is He who should be seated
on throne of our hearts. [ WE ]Let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly in all
wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing with grace in [our] hearts to the Lord.
Father, today we pray in Jesus name to be that person YOU desire us to be through Your word of Truth! We believe we receive that life You desired for us from the very beginning of time. We are thankful for Jesus and His sacrifice on the Cross that we would live together with You God in harmony that is a beautiful sound.
We truly desire to not appear as the one who airs their dirty laundry in public! We desire not to appear as the impassable swamp or un-tilled ground that clearly portrays the ruin of wickedness and sinful behavior, but is that which is holy and upright life that our Father has blessed to us in His grace. WE by faith receive that life that is seeking Your counsel, valuing Your wisdom above gold and silver. And we believe to never stray from from hearing You when you speak. It is in Your design and plan that we have confidence that YOU our Father has called us to eternal significance.
Today, we
are contacting YOU the Author and the Finisher of our faith and put this Word
into motion. This Word will not return void, but will accomplish where it is
sent. We are totally leaning on YOU and learning of YOUR wisdom, drawing on
Your strength and filled with Your quietness……that is bringing the required
results we believe to be in unity and harmony with You our Father and in unity with believers. May we have the character
that makes the ‘sound of symphony’ to the Lord and appear as the beautiful garden that brings glory to the Lord.
New teaching at: Voice of Prayer
He is Risen
Also visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching
New teaching at: Life Giving Wells
The Favor of God
Also visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching
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