"To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy". - Jude 1:24
Not only is He able to keep you from falling. He's able to lift you up. You can be presented blameless before His glorious presence and experience great joy!
Praise GOD for this!
 |
| a crown of thorns. photo credit: Samuel Lopes |
"When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things." - 1 Corinthians 13:11
I heard someone say that the Author who wrote that verse in Corinthians "Intentionally" put away childish things. It was not by accident or by chance, but by choice.
The decision to put away childish things and "renew our minds" goes along with the intentional act of surrender. Surrendering our will to GOD's will, surrendering our thoughts to GOD's thoughts for us is where real transformation is.
After so many years of getting hurt by ego and my own will and outlook, I'm grateful to realize how essential obedience and surrender are. While they are sometimes not easy, they're necessary for our life's journey.
Surrender is required for growth. From a child to a man, from a man to a royal, obedience has it. As I celebrated a birthday and personal new year, I realized a few things and was given the revelation that I'll move forward with:
I woke up this morning and heard that I was cheap! Yep, in a word it was confirmed how I've been cheating GOD and ultimately myself in so many ways. The understanding that I had ONE JOB evaded me. I think this "one job" is often taken too lightly, especially if we follow our own thoughts/perception or "walk according to our flesh".
In today's episode of Breath Of Life Daily podcast, I talk more about how straying from the one job and/or disobedience is costly. It can cost us well-being, opportunities, prosperity etc.
A few scriptures that I came across in relation to the context of the episode are shared below. Feel free to share any other ones that you also think may apply in the comments.
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
4(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
5Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
6And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled."
- - -
36Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume. 38As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.
39When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”
40But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
41“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,e and the other fifty. 42When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”
43“I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied.
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived. 46You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume. 47Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
48Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
- - -
16For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up;
but the wicked stumble in bad times.
- - -
If you fall down 7 times, stand up 8! Repent and obey.
Please share any insight or questions you may have about this podcast episode and connect with online with us @BOLDJournal on all social media platforms.
