Luke 3:14
"And the soldiers likewise demanded of Him, saying, and what shall we do? And He said unto them, do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages."
Do violence to no man is a funny thing to say to a soldier, whose job it is to do violence to men, but I don't think John literally meant for the soldiers to stop doing there job, I've heard that the soldiers during this time were corrupt and would be violent when there was no need for it, so I think he was just saying don't hurt people when you don't have to. So apart from not physically hurting people How can I apply this to myself? As a Christian my job is to follow Christ, I often become too focused on our enemy and our problems, those are things I should be aware of but it's not right to give more attention to them than is required, like the soldier using more violence than is required. There is a certain amount of attention I should give those things, but I should not exceed that amount, it is not my job to be overly concerned with those things, it is my job to keep my focus on and follow our Lord Jesus.
John also says neither accuse any falsely, so the soldiers being corrupt also lied a lot. I can think of no deep meaning to this, just don't lie, ever, like at all, so called little white lies are just as bad as any other size or color lies, cocaine comes in little white lines, anthrax comes in little white letters, little white lice create a lot of problems. Satan is the father of all lies, so if you lie you're basically being impregnated by lucifer and giving birth to his baby lie, and babies grow and create more babies, little white lies have serious consequences
Finally he says be content with your wages, we ought to be content with no wages, since we should be in hell anyway. also our ability to earn any wages or do anything at all is completely dependent on God. the laws of nature, our solar system, our planet, our governments, our bodies, our sub conscious minds, are all held together and controlled by God, we are dependent on all these, so be happy with a penny or with nothing, in all things give thanks, cuz we should've gone to hell
Monday, February 13, 2017
1 Timothy 6:6-8
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
"How do you go camping? You bring what you need and it's all about the adventure and then you sleep really well when you get home"- Austin Hiatt. As followers of Christ we should live as if we are camping, the Bible calls our bodies tents, it says that we are pilgrims and strangers on the earth, that we are in the world but not of it, so we should pack lightly and not let our hearts get attached to what is temporary and ultimately unfulfilling. Imagine how extremely ridiculous it would be to start building a house on your weekend camping trip. That is what we do when we are not content, we store up things and set our hearts on things that end up making us ineffective at what we are supposed to be doing. One of the Psalms says "he who trusts in his riches will fall", in the parable of the soils, Jesus says the riches of this world choke the word. over abundance of things, if we set our hearts on them, which we are likely to do, prevent us from bearing fruit, distract us from our mission and make us ineffective campers. All the things we seek in material things are found in God, life, joy, security, love, pleasure, comfort, meaning. God is the land we should swim out to, but instead, when we seek after material things, we swim to floating garbage from sunken ships where eventually we'll be attacked and eaten by sharks 🦈 . But we should not only not desire material riches, we should be thankful for whatever we do have. Somewhere it says "what do you have that you have not been given?" And it is true, one day we were just born, we received a body, a mind, a life sustaining planet, and everything those contain, literally everything we ever get or make is a gift from God. Before we existed we did nothing to earn or pay for all these priceless things, God has freely given them to us. Also we should always remember that we were once dead in our sins and without hope and the only thing we deserved was hell, if we lived life in this earth starving and naked it would be better than we deserve. so let us be thankful with food and clothes, with any food and clothes, because it's better than we deserve and it is a great gift from God.
Application
When we have salad for lunch or dinner I will not complain I will praise and thank God for it because I should be eating dust with the serpent, and if my luggage is ever lost or if I am in a situation where I have no clothes I will praise and thank God because I even have a body that can be clothed and even more so for clothing me with Christ
"But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."
"How do you go camping? You bring what you need and it's all about the adventure and then you sleep really well when you get home"- Austin Hiatt. As followers of Christ we should live as if we are camping, the Bible calls our bodies tents, it says that we are pilgrims and strangers on the earth, that we are in the world but not of it, so we should pack lightly and not let our hearts get attached to what is temporary and ultimately unfulfilling. Imagine how extremely ridiculous it would be to start building a house on your weekend camping trip. That is what we do when we are not content, we store up things and set our hearts on things that end up making us ineffective at what we are supposed to be doing. One of the Psalms says "he who trusts in his riches will fall", in the parable of the soils, Jesus says the riches of this world choke the word. over abundance of things, if we set our hearts on them, which we are likely to do, prevent us from bearing fruit, distract us from our mission and make us ineffective campers. All the things we seek in material things are found in God, life, joy, security, love, pleasure, comfort, meaning. God is the land we should swim out to, but instead, when we seek after material things, we swim to floating garbage from sunken ships where eventually we'll be attacked and eaten by sharks 🦈 . But we should not only not desire material riches, we should be thankful for whatever we do have. Somewhere it says "what do you have that you have not been given?" And it is true, one day we were just born, we received a body, a mind, a life sustaining planet, and everything those contain, literally everything we ever get or make is a gift from God. Before we existed we did nothing to earn or pay for all these priceless things, God has freely given them to us. Also we should always remember that we were once dead in our sins and without hope and the only thing we deserved was hell, if we lived life in this earth starving and naked it would be better than we deserve. so let us be thankful with food and clothes, with any food and clothes, because it's better than we deserve and it is a great gift from God.
Application
When we have salad for lunch or dinner I will not complain I will praise and thank God for it because I should be eating dust with the serpent, and if my luggage is ever lost or if I am in a situation where I have no clothes I will praise and thank God because I even have a body that can be clothed and even more so for clothing me with Christ
Ephesians 5:15-17
"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."
Walk with wisdom, by understanding what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 1:9-10 says "having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: that in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ", 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 says "see that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Based on these verses, the will of God is to gather together all things in Christ, and for us to not return evil for evil, always follow what is good, rejoice, pray always, and to give thanks for everything. Now understanding what the will of the Lord is I can be wise if I live accordingly, so I will pray for to have the same will and for help obeying His will
"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is."
Walk with wisdom, by understanding what the will of the Lord is. Ephesians 1:9-10 says "having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself: that in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ", 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 says "see that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Based on these verses, the will of God is to gather together all things in Christ, and for us to not return evil for evil, always follow what is good, rejoice, pray always, and to give thanks for everything. Now understanding what the will of the Lord is I can be wise if I live accordingly, so I will pray for to have the same will and for help obeying His will
IBS James 1:5
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him"
If you sincerely ask God for wisdom He will give it to you "if ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" Matthew 7:11, "If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" Luke 11:13, "but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" 1 Corinthians 1:24. I can't say it better than Jesus, if human fathers know how to give good gifts to their kids how much more will God who is perfect give good things to His kids. I have asked God for wisdom and He has given it to me in its truest form, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which gives me the knowledge of the Gospel and the power and desire to live accordingly.
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him"
If you sincerely ask God for wisdom He will give it to you "if ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?" Matthew 7:11, "If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?" Luke 11:13, "but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" 1 Corinthians 1:24. I can't say it better than Jesus, if human fathers know how to give good gifts to their kids how much more will God who is perfect give good things to His kids. I have asked God for wisdom and He has given it to me in its truest form, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which gives me the knowledge of the Gospel and the power and desire to live accordingly.
Tuesday IBS psalm 111:10
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: his praise endureth for ever"
In my teens my friends and I were focused on fulfilling the desires of the flesh, we would chase girls, drink, do drugs, party, etc. But one of my friends in particular would do things the rest of us wouldn't, he was also the most antagonistic towards God. This friend did every drug under the sun, from computer cleaner to heroine, he would take huge risks buying drugs in bulk from extra shady dudes to save money, he would get trashed in school, he went farther than the rest of us. He was extremely intelligent and talented, took I.b. classes, got good grades, came from a wealthy family, and I love him, but he did not fear the Lord and was not wise, and now he's dealing with the consequences of that. My dad taught me about God and the Gospel in my early teens, he taught me the fear of the Lord. It shows how amazingly foolish I was that I would live that sinful and deadly life knowing the truth about God, that He is holy, righteous, just, and a punisher of evil. But there was a seed of wisdom in me, a beginning of wisdom. While I was doing those things I was very afraid of dying, I knew I would have to face God and give account for my life, instead of turning away from that life and following Christ I just tried not to die, this fear kept me from selling drugs and doing harder drugs, so this was still very foolish, but it was a beginning of wisdom. Because I was being a spoiled and stubborn child, God had to break out the rod if you know what I mean, but it was because He loves me and would not let me continue in that path. Now, because of God's unmerited grace towards me, that mustard seed of wisdom has grown and continues to grow in me. I'm still a fool, but now I know I'm a fool, if you know you are lost then you can ask for directions, but if you think you know where you are going you will only get more lost "if you were blind you would have no sin, but you say that you can see, therefore your sin remains."
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: his praise endureth for ever"
In my teens my friends and I were focused on fulfilling the desires of the flesh, we would chase girls, drink, do drugs, party, etc. But one of my friends in particular would do things the rest of us wouldn't, he was also the most antagonistic towards God. This friend did every drug under the sun, from computer cleaner to heroine, he would take huge risks buying drugs in bulk from extra shady dudes to save money, he would get trashed in school, he went farther than the rest of us. He was extremely intelligent and talented, took I.b. classes, got good grades, came from a wealthy family, and I love him, but he did not fear the Lord and was not wise, and now he's dealing with the consequences of that. My dad taught me about God and the Gospel in my early teens, he taught me the fear of the Lord. It shows how amazingly foolish I was that I would live that sinful and deadly life knowing the truth about God, that He is holy, righteous, just, and a punisher of evil. But there was a seed of wisdom in me, a beginning of wisdom. While I was doing those things I was very afraid of dying, I knew I would have to face God and give account for my life, instead of turning away from that life and following Christ I just tried not to die, this fear kept me from selling drugs and doing harder drugs, so this was still very foolish, but it was a beginning of wisdom. Because I was being a spoiled and stubborn child, God had to break out the rod if you know what I mean, but it was because He loves me and would not let me continue in that path. Now, because of God's unmerited grace towards me, that mustard seed of wisdom has grown and continues to grow in me. I'm still a fool, but now I know I'm a fool, if you know you are lost then you can ask for directions, but if you think you know where you are going you will only get more lost "if you were blind you would have no sin, but you say that you can see, therefore your sin remains."
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