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Post by Jim Pate on Dec 22, 2018 10:44:46 GMT -5
Matthew 24:21
(21) For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
Failure to be careful in our obedience has unique consequences as we approach the end of this age. It will be a time of tribulation whose severity the world has never seen or ever will see again. Christ warns us of that in Matthew 24:21, “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.”
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Post by Jim Pate on Dec 22, 2018 10:46:10 GMT -5
Luke 1:68
68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them.
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Post by Jim Pate on Dec 23, 2018 9:24:18 GMT -5
Galatians 4:4-5
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.
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Post by Jim Pate on Dec 24, 2018 9:00:14 GMT -5
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth
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Post by Jim Pate on Dec 25, 2018 6:42:36 GMT -5
Luke 2:10-12
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger
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Post by Jim Pate on Dec 26, 2018 9:04:34 GMT -5
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." - 2 Corinthians 7: 1
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Post by Jim Pate on Dec 27, 2018 10:17:54 GMT -5
To the degree that we accept that through Christ we ourselves have been reconciled with God we can be messengers of reconciliation for others. Essential to the work of reconciliation is a nonjudgmental presence. We are not sent to the world to judge, to condemn, to evaluate, to classify, or to label. When we walk around as if we have to make up our mind about people and tell them what is wrong with them and how they should change, we will only create more division. Jesus says it clearly: "Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge; ... do not condemn; ... forgive" (Luke 6:36-37).
In a world that constantly asks us to make up our minds about other people, a nonjudgmental presence seems nearly impossible. But it is one of the most beautiful fruits of a deep spiritual life and will be easily recognized by those who long for reconciliation.
Henri Nouwen
For further reflection...
"We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited." - 2 Corinthians 6: 3
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Post by Jim Pate on Dec 29, 2018 9:41:36 GMT -5
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." - Galatians 6: 10
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Post by Jim Pate on Dec 30, 2018 10:13:22 GMT -5
Psalm 119:165
165 Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble
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Post by Jim Pate on Dec 31, 2018 8:51:23 GMT -5
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
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Post by Jim Pate on Jan 1, 2019 11:23:24 GMT -5
Revelation 21:6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
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Post by Jim Pate on Jan 1, 2019 13:38:23 GMT -5
Psalm 1 English Standard Version (ESV)
Book One
The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked
1 Blessed is the man(a)
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law(b) of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.
Footnotes:
Psalm 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person; see Preface
Psalm 1:2 Or instruction
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Post by Jim Pate on Jan 2, 2019 5:58:08 GMT -5
Psalm 2 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Reign of the Lord's Anointed
2 Why do the nations rage(a)
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break(b) them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble
b. Psalm 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule
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Post by Jim Pate on Jan 3, 2019 7:59:06 GMT -5
Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
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Post by Jim Pate on Jan 4, 2019 9:39:10 GMT -5
Colossians 3:9-10
9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
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