Making allowances

“Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.”Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

For the modern person, even a Christian, this is a tall order. Why, we come first don’t we? No! If we are followers of Christ we must lay down selfishness and clothe ourselves with humility.

Do we even know where to begin? We begin with a repentant prayer and a petition to God to make us aware, teach us and lead us. He will! 

Next we spend time with Him, reading His words to us. His word is full of life. Hebrews 4:12 tells us ‘God’s word is living and active able to pierce bone and marrow, it interprets and discerns the true intentions of the heart.’ Our bibles are the best medicine!

Next we ask for ears to hear His truth and a heart to walk in it. This is humility. Then do it! Amen!

Finding the wise

“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I have various friends, some I enjoy immensely, others in certain places and times. However, just because I enjoy a particular friend does not mean they have wisdom in all things. Some things they are very good and some not so. Why is that? Experience! 

Recently I cracked a tooth and half of it fell away. I asked a friend who had lived in Nepal for 16 years for advice. She recommended her dentist as being reasonably priced, good with pain relief and a capable dentist. She told me ‘ he does not have a fancy front shop but you will find him through a hole in the wall!’ Now, this can make one wonder how successful the dentist is and therefore how good he really is. But I trusted my friend and went to her dentist. He was the best! Better than my dentist in Australia. Now, this friend is willing to tell me where she has no experience, for that I am grateful. This, to me makes her wise.

This afternoon I will spend time with another friend who is wise in winning souls. I am looking forward to that time. She is doing something I have wanted to do, run craft lessons ending with devotions.

God has worked wisdom into my life in certain areas of faith and I can share these. He has trained me in finance and I can share this. He has trained me in His word, in words of wisdom , miracles and healings. Of these I want more. He has trained me in business and leadership, for this I am grateful, and always open for more. I know I need more, this is wisdom.

I value wisdom and wise friends. More Lord!

Respect

“Never speak harshly to an older man, but appeal to him respectfully as you would to your own father. Talk to younger men as you would to your own brothers. Treat older women as you would your mother, and treat younger women with all purity as you would your own sisters.”1 Timothy‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In today’s world these directives are forgotten by many. In church life they are very important. Respect for age, office and the Lord are all tantamount. 

As an older woman I do not find much respect these days. In Nepal people here do not, on the whole, show respect. They cut in before you, overtalk you or ignore you. I know that respect is something we teach younger people. If we fail to teach then we fail to receive. We teach through our own behaviour. If we show respect, respect is given.

I respected my own mother and father. My siblings also respected them. Even though my dad was a cantankerous old man we still loved and respected him. I pray that my children and grandchildren will retain respect for the remainder of their days. Amen!

Eternal life

“I speak to you an eternal truth: if you embrace my message and believe in the One who sent me, you will never face condemnation. In me, you have already passed from the realm of death into eternal life!”John‬ ‭5‬:‭24‬ ‭TPT‬‬

What is eternal life after all, as we all die? The eternal life Jesus was speaking about is life of the soul and spirit after the bodies die. Those who actively believe Jesus paid the price for all their sins, that is enough. If I live my life by faith in the finished work of Jesus and make Him Lord of my life, that is enough.

If I now allow Jesus to influence my decisions and choices, I am walking in faith with Him. I can never pay the price He paid for me. He remained sinless His whole life and died a sinners death on the cross in my place. His blood is enough.

Eternal death is not ‘lights out’ and no knowledge of our surroundings, it is a choice to go, with Satan and his demons to hell and rot for all eternity in flames that do not quench and worms that are never satisfied. There will be no reprieve there, no goodness, ever; only continual death and decay.

I choose life! Amen!

A new nature

“He answered, “The Scriptures say: Bread alone will not satisfy, but true life is found in every word that constantly goes forth from God’s mouth.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭TPT‬‬

In this verse Jesus is doing battle with Satan. Jesus had just fasted for 40 days in the desert. He was hungry and Satan saw his chance. However, he was wrong. Jesus knew His scripture and He knew His Father. He was not playing the game and losing His sinlessness.

We have been cleansed by the blood Jesus shed for us. We were born into sin, however, when we come to Christ and make Him Lord, we are new creatures created in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17). We can also resist sin and the devil. James tells us: ‘resist the devil and he will flee!’ (James 4:7)

We need to stand up in who we are and tell Satan to go. Choose righteousness, not sinfulness saying: ‘oh well I was born into sin’. If you belong to Christ you have a new nature. Live in it! Amen!

The most excellent way

“I continue to pray for your love to grow and increase beyond measure, bringing you into the rich revelation of spiritual insight in all things. This will enable you to choose the most excellent way of all —becoming pure and without offense until the unveiling of Christ.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭TPT‬‬

We have more than enough to offend us daily, however we must choose grace and forgiveness. A check on how we’re are walking: in Christ or the flesh, is how we behave towards others. When things go our way and we feel on top are we arrogant and lacking grace, or do we see our need for grace and humble ourselves? When struggling are we filled with self-pity and ungracious?

Daily we need Jesus, moment by moment we need Jesus. He has to be before our eyes. His way is the right way, the only way. Jesus said of Himself: ‘I only do what I see the Father doing’ (Jn 5:19).  Let us seek out what the Father is doing today. Amen!

Fall in love

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”Psalms‬ ‭94‬:‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We can doubt who we are; who loves us; who supports us. However, if we are in Christ we have the Holy Spirit to tell us we are loved. We do not need to feel loved to be loved. We may not always feel God’s love, our feelings are not truth, God’s word is truth.

I now have some lovely friends in Nepal and their fellowship make me feel loved. However, they are not my bedrock, Jesus is. God’s word tells me how He loves me. This I must trust.

Hebrews tell me: God’s word is living and active, piercing through bone and marrow. His truth sustains me. It touches the heart of a matter. I happen to enjoy the Passion translation of the Bible. Psalms are particularly beautiful in this translation.

Fall in love with Jesus and His word to us! Amen!