Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48
Based on Hebrews 13:20-25
Paul's blessing to the Hebrew believers: May the God of Peace who resurrected Jesus, the great shepherd, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you perfect in doing his will, changing you to be righteous by Jesus Christ, who deserves the credit for every positive change. Please accept the words of this letter which is to strengthen you in your spiritual life. Timothy is free now, I hope to join him while he is with you. Greet the church leaders for me and all true followers of Jesus. The Italians send their greetings. May you have grace.
Jesus can make us perfect by his blood but we must accept and live by the words of scripture to achieve this.
Do you trust God to use the Bible to make you perfect like Jesus?
Are you reading, memorising and thinking the words of the Bible so they can change you?
Tuesday, 12 June 2012
Sunday, 10 June 2012
Nice
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40
Based on Hebrews 13:16-19
Do not forget to do good and to be generous because God considers this a good sacrifice to himself. Be obedient to authorities in your church, to make their job more pleasant, since it is a heavy responsibility and for your soul's benefit. Pray for them too because they are trying to do what is right, and doing so would bring real benefit to them. It would have even caused Paul to be freed from prison.
God regards kindness to others as kindness to himself. The most important kindness is to submit joyfully to church leaders and pray for them.
Are you praying for anyone who is ruling or counselling you in the church?
Based on Hebrews 13:16-19
Do not forget to do good and to be generous because God considers this a good sacrifice to himself. Be obedient to authorities in your church, to make their job more pleasant, since it is a heavy responsibility and for your soul's benefit. Pray for them too because they are trying to do what is right, and doing so would bring real benefit to them. It would have even caused Paul to be freed from prison.
God regards kindness to others as kindness to himself. The most important kindness is to submit joyfully to church leaders and pray for them.
Are you praying for anyone who is ruling or counselling you in the church?
Memory and Hope
Based on Hebrews 13:10-15
Our sacrifice is not what was going on in the temple in Paul's day. Because the bodies of animals sacrificed for sin are burnt outside the camp signifying how Jesus would suffer outside the city to make us holy by his blood. Let us therefore be like him and be willing to suffer and be excluded from Jerusalem and Jewishness (your own home and culture); because Jerusalem is not God's city, but God's city is to come. Let us therefore praise and thank God constantly despite persecution because Jesus has blessed us so much.
We should be willing to face the same kind of suffering as Jesus and praise God.
If you are a follower of Christ, think back on the blessings he has brought into your life.
Our sacrifice is not what was going on in the temple in Paul's day. Because the bodies of animals sacrificed for sin are burnt outside the camp signifying how Jesus would suffer outside the city to make us holy by his blood. Let us therefore be like him and be willing to suffer and be excluded from Jerusalem and Jewishness (your own home and culture); because Jerusalem is not God's city, but God's city is to come. Let us therefore praise and thank God constantly despite persecution because Jesus has blessed us so much.
We should be willing to face the same kind of suffering as Jesus and praise God.
If you are a follower of Christ, think back on the blessings he has brought into your life.
Wednesday, 6 June 2012
Rambo Christians?
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:10
Based on Hebrews 13:7-9
Be grateful to godly spiritual leaders who have helped you know God through his Word. Imitate the faith of these people and pay attention to why they behave the way they do. It is to become like Jesus Christ who is the same always. It is possible to know what is right because Jesus set the example for all to follow throughout the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. Jesus has not changed.
So do not get distracted by strange ideas that do not come from the Bible, but focus on the grace of God that he gave Jesus to sinners like us. Do not regard people who teach continuing to worry about the ordinances that Moses was given at a specific time for a specific situation. Rather focus on God's eternal law and how it reveals Jesus to us.
We are not able to obtain salvation alone. Imitate the faith of godly people, notice how it leads to action. Consider that they do it all because of Jesus Christ; they are empowered by him as they strive to be like him as revealed in his eternal law. We need Jesus to be saved, and often Jesus uses other people to do his work in our lives.
Are you following the good example of those who you believe have a better experience with God than you? Do not think you cannot be like them; you can be better, you can be like Jesus.
Remember that any improvement in your life will be powered by God and you must resolve to trust him, even if it means accepting criticism from sinful people.
Based on Hebrews 13:7-9
Be grateful to godly spiritual leaders who have helped you know God through his Word. Imitate the faith of these people and pay attention to why they behave the way they do. It is to become like Jesus Christ who is the same always. It is possible to know what is right because Jesus set the example for all to follow throughout the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures. Jesus has not changed.
So do not get distracted by strange ideas that do not come from the Bible, but focus on the grace of God that he gave Jesus to sinners like us. Do not regard people who teach continuing to worry about the ordinances that Moses was given at a specific time for a specific situation. Rather focus on God's eternal law and how it reveals Jesus to us.
We are not able to obtain salvation alone. Imitate the faith of godly people, notice how it leads to action. Consider that they do it all because of Jesus Christ; they are empowered by him as they strive to be like him as revealed in his eternal law. We need Jesus to be saved, and often Jesus uses other people to do his work in our lives.
Are you following the good example of those who you believe have a better experience with God than you? Do not think you cannot be like them; you can be better, you can be like Jesus.
Remember that any improvement in your life will be powered by God and you must resolve to trust him, even if it means accepting criticism from sinful people.
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