This really convicts me

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Jan 31, 2023
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#1
Look what I found on Facebook:
"Jesus taught and showed us the way. He suffered horribly, died, and rose to get us to respond so we can be forgiven. He will return to judge the world and welcome into his kingdom only those who gave their lives to the will of God and the good of their neighbor.
In response to this, I (the reader) have decided to do the following:
A.) To attend church services most Sundays, read the bible or pray for a few minutes each day, and give a small amount of my income to help pay my pastor's salary while I spend most of my money on things I don't actually need, most of my free time on fun activities and entertainment, and most of my energy pursuing a higher quality of life than is necessary for me/my family.
B.) To faithfully attend church services and other weekly church events, to pray a few times each day, to give a decent sized chunk of my income to my church and to missions but not so much that it will affect my lifestyle in any significant way, to invite people to my church here and there, and to do bible study or community group once a week or so, while I spend most of my money on things I don't actually need, most of my free time on fun activities and entertainment, and most of my energy pursuing a higher quality of life than is necessary for me/my family.
C.) To do what Jesus said to do, which is to just give him my whole life - to wave goodbye to the selfish lifestyle I was living, stop wasting time and money on things that are not necessary or useful for the mission my Master has given me, and strive forward with all my heart like I actually believe this stuff and like Jesus is really everything to me, learning to obey all he commanded, honestly seeking to prioritize my neighbor's needs as though they were my own, trying to help as many people as I can to be ready to give Jesus an account with whatever gifts and abilities God has given me, and staying awake and ready for my Master to return at any time - all the way to the end.
Which of these options is the only one that really makes sense in light of what Jesus has done?
If you are claiming to be a Christian, and if you had to circle the option that most closely describes how you are actually responding to Jesus, which one would it be? If it is not option C.), why not? What are you waiting for? I promise that, while it comes with an enormous price tag, option C.) is far more exciting and fulfilling, and that it has something far better waiting for us at the end of it, than option A.) or B.).
Please let me know if you'd like to talk."

My response was:
"I wish I can say that I am on C, but I may still tiptoeing between C and B, I fear, even closer to B. I do have an assembling, and no one asks for a tithe there, and I make sure to pass out not only tracts, but also teachings about God's word generally , but I still have the weekness of spending money on sweets. I need to make sure that NOTHING I spend money on is something useless, and sweets certainly are [useless]. They aren't good for us. I plan to be a gospel musician like brother Brackin [Sounds Like Reign], however, I do fear that my motives are not perfect."

I have fully understood what this brother meant, and no, before you ask, he didn't command asceticism. We certainly can have things to enjoy, no doubt, but what do we use it for? A motorcycle as an example is a fun object, but why don't we put some Bible verses on it? And then, do we only use it to enjoy ourselves, or do we use it to travel to those that need our help? After all, we are ministers full time, Christ is no hobby, but our saviour who died for us, and we ought to be ready to die for him too.
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. " 1 Corinthians 10:31
 
Feb 17, 2023
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#2
One of the challenges of the Christian life is to give over more and more of our time to bring honor to God. However, there are actions that unbelievers do which we can do, but with very different motives.

Let me give you an example from my own life.

I hated farm work and was bored with the farm when Dad brought home our first TV in 1951, when I was 9 years old. We lived north of Chicago, and sports and TV became my idolatrous, mental escape from the farm as a new Chicago Cubs fan.

When I became a Christian at the age of 16, sports and TV remained an unexamined idol alongside of God. Later, I became a pastor. In my first church, I preached a message on the verse you quote, 1 Corinthians 10:31.

After I preached it, God created an internal dialogue in me that went something like this:

"Are you watching TV and sports to honor God?"

"No, I'm not."

The way I saw it, I had two choices if I were to obey God's command through Paul. One was to throw all the sports and TV out of my life. The other was to find some way to give it to God's glory by honoring him with it.

I began to see that, as I watched sports, I could praise God the Creator with my mind for his creative power in giving athletes such amazing talents as I was witnessing. It was in turning those activities over to praising God instead of using them for my self-centered pleasure that God released me from that idolatry and gave me a point-of-contact with unbelieving sports and TV fans to whom I could witness about God.
 
Oct 24, 2012
16,125
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#4
Look what I found on Facebook:
"Jesus taught and showed us the way. He suffered horribly, died, and rose to get us to respond so we can be forgiven. He will return to judge the world and welcome into his kingdom only those who gave their lives to the will of God and the good of their neighbor.
In response to this, I (the reader) have decided to do the following:
A.) To attend church services most Sundays, read the bible or pray for a few minutes each day, and give a small amount of my income to help pay my pastor's salary while I spend most of my money on things I don't actually need, most of my free time on fun activities and entertainment, and most of my energy pursuing a higher quality of life than is necessary for me/my family.
B.) To faithfully attend church services and other weekly church events, to pray a few times each day, to give a decent sized chunk of my income to my church and to missions but not so much that it will affect my lifestyle in any significant way, to invite people to my church here and there, and to do bible study or community group once a week or so, while I spend most of my money on things I don't actually need, most of my free time on fun activities and entertainment, and most of my energy pursuing a higher quality of life than is necessary for me/my family.
C.) To do what Jesus said to do, which is to just give him my whole life - to wave goodbye to the selfish lifestyle I was living, stop wasting time and money on things that are not necessary or useful for the mission my Master has given me, and strive forward with all my heart like I actually believe this stuff and like Jesus is really everything to me, learning to obey all he commanded, honestly seeking to prioritize my neighbor's needs as though they were my own, trying to help as many people as I can to be ready to give Jesus an account with whatever gifts and abilities God has given me, and staying awake and ready for my Master to return at any time - all the way to the end.
Which of these options is the only one that really makes sense in light of what Jesus has done?
If you are claiming to be a Christian, and if you had to circle the option that most closely describes how you are actually responding to Jesus, which one would it be? If it is not option C.), why not? What are you waiting for? I promise that, while it comes with an enormous price tag, option C.) is far more exciting and fulfilling, and that it has something far better waiting for us at the end of it, than option A.) or B.).
Please let me know if you'd like to talk."

My response was:
"I wish I can say that I am on C, but I may still tiptoeing between C and B, I fear, even closer to B. I do have an assembling, and no one asks for a tithe there, and I make sure to pass out not only tracts, but also teachings about God's word generally , but I still have the weekness of spending money on sweets. I need to make sure that NOTHING I spend money on is something useless, and sweets certainly are [useless]. They aren't good for us. I plan to be a gospel musician like brother Brackin [Sounds Like Reign], however, I do fear that my motives are not perfect."

I have fully understood what this brother meant, and no, before you ask, he didn't command asceticism. We certainly can have things to enjoy, no doubt, but what do we use it for? A motorcycle as an example is a fun object, but why don't we put some Bible verses on it? And then, do we only use it to enjoy ourselves, or do we use it to travel to those that need our help? After all, we are ministers full time, Christ is no hobby, but our saviour who died for us, and we ought to be ready to die for him too.
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. " 1 Corinthians 10:31
The start new life start begins when
Ephesians 1:13
in whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

This sealing from God in risen Son starts, then one sees, by God in Son. Jesus as risen
We all are forgiven at that cross before any cross over can begin in us the ones that will not quit belief to see truth over the many errors in this world still here presently.
John 19:30, what is finished? go forth and seek that out. sealed by God to get that revealed in and through you, without having to? What?
Yeah God did it all for you, for you to respond to this in Thanksgiving and praise to God, not this world and it goods. As I see I used to do that a lot, seeing me, not seeing clearly, not that I got it now, just simply growing in the grace given me daily by Son, I can now rest and truly learn new, not in this fake world that plays church that does it oh so well, many are deceived in it. yet God teaches each of his, that is for sure for me at least to refrain from getting over excited about others and self in what I or others do or not do. Working out my own salvation given me in reverent fear to God Father and Son as Won for me and all the world on that cross, leaving only one choice left, to believe or not believe God in Son Jesus as risen or not, thanks
Reverent fear is different from world fear
So ask God for the new life offered in his risen Son Jesus and stand in belief to see it's truth for you too, thank you
 

Blade

Well-known member
Nov 19, 2019
1,730
615
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#5
The other night out side.. well our cat loves to go out side where fence is and she sits on it looking around. I seem to be the only one that does this with her.. her being MeiMei (wife is Chinese). So out side thinking about all the things I have not done not doing for Him and was saying how sorry I was. To that He said which I didn't expect anything He said "what did I tell you to do?" So I was looking back over my life and .. He said "that condemnation guilt shame.. its not from me".

The part of this I disagree with yet really liked reading it was this " He will return to judge the world and welcome into his kingdom only those who gave their lives to the will of God and the good of their neighbor.". We that know Him there is no judgement coming. The only judgement we have coming is rewards. My guess is the writer was talking about when Christ was telling Israel not Christians for there were none. Its about a time which I do not believe I will be apart of. He returns sets His feet on the earth and then gathers the nations and splits them sheep and goats which just came out of the great tribulation. What no one shares is.. so all those that died and are now with the Father.. you know Peter James John, Mom dad grandpa.. are they pulled form heaven to stand before Him to be judged again?

I love the song by Gokey "Rumor has it there’s a gavel in My hand I’m only here to condemn But let Me tell you secrets you have never known I think of you as My best friend". See right now He knows me.. He told the Father about me.. the angels in heaven rejoiced the day He found me. My name has been written in the lambs book before the foundation of the world. About two years ago questioning does He love me just as much.. I know I know.. but He showed me this tiny tree with so many branches says "show me a branch that was not originally of the vine. I am the vine you are the branches". He knows me.
 
Sep 14, 2024
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#6
This topic and 1 corinthians 10, answerd a question I had tonight. I was wanting to buy metallica CDs, but I will not now.
 

PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
13,411
8,943
113
#7
Look what I found on Facebook:
"Jesus taught and showed us the way. He suffered horribly, died, and rose to get us to respond so we can be forgiven. He will return to judge the world and welcome into his kingdom only those who gave their lives to the will of God and the good of their neighbor.
In response to this, I (the reader) have decided to do the following:
Although I mostly agree with the rest of your post,

It may be just the wording, but that paragraph seems to indicate that it is following Jesus that saves us.
It most definitely is not.

We follow Jesus AFTER we have been born again, through HIS sacrificial death to pay for our sins.

We must not deviate from this essential element of THE Gospel unto Salvation.
 
Oct 24, 2012
16,125
357
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#8
Although I mostly agree with the rest of your post,

It may be just the wording, but that paragraph seems to indicate that it is following Jesus that saves us.
It most definitely is not.

We follow Jesus AFTER we have been born again, through HIS sacrificial death to pay for our sins.

We must not deviate from this essential element of THE Gospel unto Salvation.
this be what I see,
Believe God in risen Son, continue in that truth for you and all others too. God will take it all in the good and bad and have conversations with us within us each, Christ (the Propitiation) made us friends to enter freely, to the throne of grace for us to learn new in, for me at least. That will free us in trust to his love and mercy of Son given us to have, without any work of ourselves trying to do it anymore, that no one can, coiuld or ever will do. but God in Son for us as done (John 19:30) but continued belief to it is finished and new life begins in the risen Son for each of us to stop bantering around semantics of words used, God knowing the intent of each of us, I see to rest in that hoping we all see that and get rid of fear in us, since perfect Love (God's Love) casts out all fear 1 John 4:17-18, thank you

1 John 4:17-18

Authorized (King James) Version



Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.