For those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. {30} And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified {Romans 8:29–30}
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love Him along the same lines as the life of His Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity He restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in Him. {30} After God made that decision of what His children should be like, He followed it up by calling people by name. After He called them by name, He set them on a solid basis with Himself. And then, after getting them established, He stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what He had begun. {Romans 8:29-30}
For God knew His people in advance, and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. {30} And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory.
{Romans 8:29-30}
Our life is a part of God's grand design. God has known about us and had a plan for our life before time began. He knew everything about us before we were even born (Jer. 1:5). God predetermined (prearranged, fixed) that we would become like His Son. Our life, therefore, has a destiny. Christ is the model upon which the Father is developing our life. We are meant to have a relationship with the Father that is as intimate as the relationship between Jesus and the Father(John 17:21). Every event He allows into our life is designed to make us more like Christ.
God's call came when He invited us to join Him in the process! His call was extremely personal, designed specifically for our response. How wonderful to realize that at a particular moment in history, Almighty God spoke personally to us, and invited us to become His child! Because of our sin, we could never live blamelessly. But God forgave our sin and justified us, declaring us righteous. All the spiritual debt we carried with Him was forgiven, and we are freed to enjoy God and to serve Him for the rest of eternity. In Biblical times, the glory of God's people was His presence. We are glorified because the fullness of God now dwells within us , and we will one day be with Him (Col. 1:27; 2:9). He invites us to join Him in working out His will in our life—conforming us to His image (Phil. 2:12).
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Living a Discerning Life
Discern: what’s of God, and what’s not of God
1) Be aware [live with our spiritual eyes open]
2) Understand [make sense of it spiritually]
3) Take action [accept the things that are of God, or reject the things that are not of God.
Psalms 19:7-14: The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. {10} They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.
{11} They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. {12} How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. {13} Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. {14} May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
1 Corinthians 2:10-16: But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. {11} No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. {12} And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. {13} When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. {14} But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. {15} Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. {16} For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
1 Timothy 2:3-7: This is good and pleases God our Savior, {4} who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. {5} For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. {6} He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. {7} And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth.
1 John 2:3-4: And this is how we may discern [daily, by experience] that we are coming to know Him [to perceive, recognize, understand, and become better acquainted with Him]: if we keep (bear in mind, observe, practice) His teachings (precepts, commandments). {4} Whoever says, I know Him [I perceive, recognize, understand, and am acquainted with Him] but fails to keep and obey His commandments (teachings) is a liar, and the Truth [of the Gospel] is not in him.
1) Be aware [live with our spiritual eyes open]
2) Understand [make sense of it spiritually]
3) Take action [accept the things that are of God, or reject the things that are not of God.
Psalms 19:7-14: The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. {10} They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.
{11} They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them. {12} How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults. {13} Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. {14} May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
1 Corinthians 2:10-16: But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. {11} No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. {12} And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. {13} When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. {14} But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. {15} Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. {16} For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.
1 Timothy 2:3-7: This is good and pleases God our Savior, {4} who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. {5} For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. {6} He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time. {7} And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I’m not exaggerating—just telling the truth.
1 John 2:3-4: And this is how we may discern [daily, by experience] that we are coming to know Him [to perceive, recognize, understand, and become better acquainted with Him]: if we keep (bear in mind, observe, practice) His teachings (precepts, commandments). {4} Whoever says, I know Him [I perceive, recognize, understand, and am acquainted with Him] but fails to keep and obey His commandments (teachings) is a liar, and the Truth [of the Gospel] is not in him.
Tested Faith
Psalms 105:19: until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.
Psalms 105:19: Joseph remained a slave until his own words had come true, and the Lord had finished testing him.
Psalms 105:19: Then the time he had spoken of came, and the Lord’s words proved that Joseph was right.
1 Peter 4:12-19: Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. {13} Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. {14} So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. {15} If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. {16} But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! {17} For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? {18} And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?” {19} So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.
1 Peter 4:12-19: Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. {13} Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. {14} If you're abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It's the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. {15} If they're on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that's a different matter. {16} But if it's because you're a Christian, don't give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name! {17} It's judgment time for Christians. We're first in line. If it starts with us, think what it's going to be like for those who refuse God's Message! {18} If good people barely make it, What's in store for the bad? {19} So if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he's doing, and he'll keep on doing it.
1 Peter 1:7-9: These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold; so if your faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his return. 8} You love him even though you have never seen him; though not seeing him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with the inexpressible joy that comes from heaven itself. {9} And your further reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:5-9: God's power protects you through your faith, and it keeps you safe until your salvation comes. That salvation is ready to be given to you at the end of time. {6} This makes you very happy. But now for a short time different kinds of troubles may make you sad. {7} These troubles come to prove that your faith is pure. This purity of faith is worth more than gold. Gold can be proved to be pure by fire, but gold will ruin. But the purity of your faith will bring you praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ comes again. {8} You have not seen Christ, but still you love him. You cannot see him now, but you believe in him. You are filled with a joy that cannot be explained. And that joy is full of glory. {9} Your faith has a goal, to save your souls. And you are receiving that goal—your salvation.
Psalms 105:19: Joseph remained a slave until his own words had come true, and the Lord had finished testing him.
Psalms 105:19: Then the time he had spoken of came, and the Lord’s words proved that Joseph was right.
1 Peter 4:12-19: Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. {13} Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. {14} So be happy when you are insulted for being a Christian, for then the glorious Spirit of God rests upon you. {15} If you suffer, however, it must not be for murder, stealing, making trouble, or prying into other people’s affairs. {16} But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by his name! {17} For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? {18} And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?” {19} So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.
1 Peter 4:12-19: Friends, when life gets really difficult, don't jump to the conclusion that God isn't on the job. {13} Instead, be glad that you are in the very thick of what Christ experienced. This is a spiritual refining process, with glory just around the corner. {14} If you're abused because of Christ, count yourself fortunate. It's the Spirit of God and his glory in you that brought you to the notice of others. {15} If they're on you because you broke the law or disturbed the peace, that's a different matter. {16} But if it's because you're a Christian, don't give it a second thought. Be proud of the distinguished status reflected in that name! {17} It's judgment time for Christians. We're first in line. If it starts with us, think what it's going to be like for those who refuse God's Message! {18} If good people barely make it, What's in store for the bad? {19} So if you find life difficult because you're doing what God said, take it in stride. Trust him. He knows what he's doing, and he'll keep on doing it.
1 Peter 1:7-9: These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold; so if your faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day of his return. 8} You love him even though you have never seen him; though not seeing him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with the inexpressible joy that comes from heaven itself. {9} And your further reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.
1 Peter 1:5-9: God's power protects you through your faith, and it keeps you safe until your salvation comes. That salvation is ready to be given to you at the end of time. {6} This makes you very happy. But now for a short time different kinds of troubles may make you sad. {7} These troubles come to prove that your faith is pure. This purity of faith is worth more than gold. Gold can be proved to be pure by fire, but gold will ruin. But the purity of your faith will bring you praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ comes again. {8} You have not seen Christ, but still you love him. You cannot see him now, but you believe in him. You are filled with a joy that cannot be explained. And that joy is full of glory. {9} Your faith has a goal, to save your souls. And you are receiving that goal—your salvation.
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