01/20/2024 – “Are You Fresh for Everything?” // “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’ ” (John 3:3). // Comments attached – Thoughts / Reflections?
“Sometimes we are fresh and eager to attend a prayer meeting, but do we feel that same freshness for such mundane tasks as polishing shoes?
Being born again by the Spirit is an unmistakable work of God, as mysterious as the wind, and as surprising as God himself. We don’t know where it begins — it is hidden away in the depths of our soul. Being born again from above is an enduring, perpetual, and eternal beginning. It provides a freshness all the time in thinking, talking, and living — a continual surprise of the life of God. Staleness is an indication that something in our lives is out of step with God. We say to ourselves, ‘I have to do this thing or it will never get done.’ That is the first sign of staleness. Do we feel fresh this very moment or are we stale, frantically searching our minds for something to do? Freshness is not the result of obedience, it comes from the Holy Spirit. (Insert *A-comment below) Obedience keeps us ‘in the light as He is in the light… (1 John 1:7).
Jealously guard your relationship with God. Jesus prayed ‘that they may be one just as We are one’ — with nothing in between (John 17:22). Keep your whole life continually open to Jesus Christ. Don’t pretend to be open with Him. Are you drawing your life from any source other than God Himself? If you are depending on something else as your source of freshness and strength, you will not realize when His power is gone.
Being born of the Spirit means much more than we usually think. It gives new vision and keeps us absolutely fresh for everything through the never-ending supply of the life of God.”
______________________________________________________________
SolI Deo Gloria!
(*A) – A brother in one of our bible study classes shared recently that he believed that born again believers will not face a judgment. I disagree. Check out the following article, link below (copy protection on the link itself. It should pop up int he 2nd of many selections):
https: /the witness.org/what-does-the-bible-say-about-judgment-for-believers
I would add:
“For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required.” Luke 12:48
We are saved only through His grace, not by our works. That is how we enter through the gates of His kingdom. I believer heaven is perfect for all souls, but there are degrees to heaven. I don’t reflect on this much, for if you are thinking about what what degree of heaven you can achieve (God forbid), you are not going to get the higher degree you think you are headed to. haha
And yes, there are very studied theologians you disagree with me, that I respect, John Piper being an example.
Oh, and perhaps the favorite recited bible verse in Matthew from “future christians”, at least from my personal experience: “Do not judge lest you be judged.” Isolated short verses can be taken out of context, that is why it is important to: “Let scripture testify to scripture.” So here, take a look at 1 Corinthians 5: 12-13: “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel that wicked man from among you.’
And in another scripture: Paul notes, in a specific instance, to excommunicate a brother in love, for it is a last option so that he may “return to us”. Therefore in summary: We don’t judge “future christians”, those who haven’t even come to faith yet. How can we, we can’t even take credit for our own faith. But we must “judge” a brother or sister within the church, if we love them like we say we do, lest they stray off the path.
Thoughts?
Always connected by His grace and through prayer…!
Your brother in Christ,
Jimmy