Scripture Reading: II Corinthians 6:2-18
2Co 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
2Co 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
2Co 6:3 Giving no offense in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: 2Co 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
2Co 6:5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings;
2Co 6:6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
2Co 6:7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
2Co 6:8 By honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet true;
2Co 6:9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed;
2Co 6:10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
2Co 6:11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
2Co 6:12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
2Co 6:13 Now for a recompense in the same, I (speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged.
2Co 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2Co 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2Co 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
This is a very powerful reading that I must take the time to compare my life to and the things I participate in from day to day. God’s offer of salvation is to all and I must be careful that I receive not this offer in vain, deceiving my own self. I have to be careful not to give offense in anything that I do that the ministry or the church be not blamed. From the worlds standpoint all that Christians do and say reflects back on the body of Christ from which I am a part. I must examine myself to make sure that I am not like the world. Have I made a commitment to purity both in mind and actions? Being a Christian requires sacrifices. Have I really come out from among them (the world)? Am I really separate? Or do I engage in the same things, dress the same way, and use the same manner of speech? Is there really any real distinction in what I do and what the average decent person does. Is it enough that I am not like the drug addicts, drunkards, family abusers and such, but beyond that, there is not any real difference? Do I have a real commitment to purity? Everything I engage in should be able to past the test of Phillippians 4:8. I should be able to say yes to each of these points listed in the verse in everything I do, from the way I dress, act, and the things I participate in. Is it true? Is it honest? Is it just? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it of a good report? Is there any virtue? Is there any praise? If I can’t say yes, then I had better rethink my actions. I have to be careful of the danger of trying to justify my action that I know deep down is wrong by comparing it to other things many engage in that are wrong also. If those things are wrong, then they need to be examined as well, but my comparison has to be with God’s word. Is this too hard for me to do? Do I have the dedication to the Lord to be separate and come out from among them or do I just blend in? I am striving to examine my life each and everyday and grow stronger in the faith. I know I cannot be perfect, but I do have to give all I have to being Christ like, following in the steps of Jesus. I want to be able to know as Paul did that if one was to follow what I do, they would get to heaven. I can’t really say that with confidence at this point, but I am prayerfully pressing toward that goal with all that I have in me.
Donna Ribardi
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
The Great Blessing of Prayer
Scripture Reading: Psalm 116:1-19
Psa 116:1 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Psa 116:2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
Psa 116:3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell got hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
Psa 116:4 Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
Psa 116:5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. Psa 116:6 The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Psa
116:7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.
Psa 116:8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
Psa 116:9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
Psa 116:10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
Psa 116:11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.
Psa 116:12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
Psa 116:13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
Psa 116:14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
Psa 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psa 116:16 O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
Psa 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
Psa 116:18 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,
Psa 116:19 In the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
I want to always keep fresh in my mind all that the Lord has done for me When I go about my daily life and not take the time or take the great advantage of one of the greatest blessing to Christians by not praying then I am not “rendering unto the Lord” the very least that I can do for all His great benefits. The great blessing we have been given of prayer is so simple to offer and so very valuable to our souls, yet many times it is often neglected. When we really think about it there is probably no greater why to show a lack of love and respect for God than to push prayer on the back-burner of our spiritual lives. The main hindrance of prayer is a heart problem. When we allow the cares of this world to creep into our lives and over take us, then it takes your hearts focus off of God. If we are not taking the time to offer sincere prayers unto our Father in heaven on a regular basis then we must examine our hearts because therein is where the problem lies. We have to examine what is taking our focus off of God and take immediate steps to correct the problem. Daily Bible reading, study, memorization of the Scriptures and writing in my spiritual journal help me to stay focused. It is a constant spiritual warfare against satan and the cares of the world to remain focused of the right and I can’t do it alone. But with my heart and mind focused on God and His Word it is so much easier, because satan is real and he is out there ready to devour us spiritually (I Pet. 5:8). I really must be on guard and be very careful because it is so easy to let my heart wander. I have to be constantly of the mind set that if it is against God, I don’t want any part of it. What fellowship hath light with darkness? (II Cor. 6:14). Darkness hinders our prayers, both in God accepting them and our desire to offer them. I want to always be like the Psalmist in the above verse, “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live (Psm. 116:1,2).
Donna Ribardi
Psa 116:1 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.
Psa 116:2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live.
Psa 116:3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell got hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow.
Psa 116:4 Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul.
Psa 116:5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. Psa 116:6 The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. Psa
116:7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee.
Psa 116:8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.
Psa 116:9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
Psa 116:10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted:
Psa 116:11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.
Psa 116:12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
Psa 116:13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.
Psa 116:14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
Psa 116:15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. Psa 116:16 O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
Psa 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.
Psa 116:18 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,
Psa 116:19 In the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
I want to always keep fresh in my mind all that the Lord has done for me When I go about my daily life and not take the time or take the great advantage of one of the greatest blessing to Christians by not praying then I am not “rendering unto the Lord” the very least that I can do for all His great benefits. The great blessing we have been given of prayer is so simple to offer and so very valuable to our souls, yet many times it is often neglected. When we really think about it there is probably no greater why to show a lack of love and respect for God than to push prayer on the back-burner of our spiritual lives. The main hindrance of prayer is a heart problem. When we allow the cares of this world to creep into our lives and over take us, then it takes your hearts focus off of God. If we are not taking the time to offer sincere prayers unto our Father in heaven on a regular basis then we must examine our hearts because therein is where the problem lies. We have to examine what is taking our focus off of God and take immediate steps to correct the problem. Daily Bible reading, study, memorization of the Scriptures and writing in my spiritual journal help me to stay focused. It is a constant spiritual warfare against satan and the cares of the world to remain focused of the right and I can’t do it alone. But with my heart and mind focused on God and His Word it is so much easier, because satan is real and he is out there ready to devour us spiritually (I Pet. 5:8). I really must be on guard and be very careful because it is so easy to let my heart wander. I have to be constantly of the mind set that if it is against God, I don’t want any part of it. What fellowship hath light with darkness? (II Cor. 6:14). Darkness hinders our prayers, both in God accepting them and our desire to offer them. I want to always be like the Psalmist in the above verse, “I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live (Psm. 116:1,2).
Donna Ribardi
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Secret Faults and Presumptuous Sins
Scripture Reading: Psa 19:12, 13, "Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression".
We all have secret faults from time to time that are just between God and ourselves. I earnestly try to work on mine and pray for God to help me have a pure heart and mind. We are to bring every thought unto the obedience of Christ (II Cor. 10:5). We cannot fill our hearts and mind with garbage and expect for them to then be pure. Hence, we have to be extremely careful what we let into our hearts and minds. If something is wrong or worldly and it is in our power to avoid, then we must. We might hear someone in the grocery store use foul language, but we are not forced to turn on a movie or listen to music with the foul language in it. We may have to see immodestly dressed people out in the world, but we do not have to go to the public swimming areas where we are sure to see them. Should we go to the public festivals of our area knowing there is going to be plenty of drinking and barroom activity? No, we should not. We do have the power to guard our hearts and keep it or else God would not have instructed us to do so in Proverbs 4:23. We just have to exercise that power. We have to stop talking ourselves into believing that the sin we let in is justified. This is the presumptuous sin spoken of here. I looked up the word and it means proud, swelling. This is what Barnes commentary had to say about this word in this context:
Presumptuous: "The prevailing thought is that of pride, and the reference is particularly to sins which proceed from self-confidence; from reliance on one's own strength. The word does not mean open sins, or flagrant sins, so much as those which spring from self-reliance or pride."
We have to stop with the thinking, "I can handle it", “I can tune this or that out", or “it is a matter of opinion”. Some things are a matter of opinion, but not the things that fall under the category of that which God calls sin. To me this is a very dangerous area that many Christians face. I face this myself a lot, especially being married to a man whose not a Christian. He does not understand some of the things that I must avoid in keeping my heart and mind pure before God. This very real danger is ever before me by just being in this world. The severities of presumptuous sins are also referenced in the book of Numbers: Num 15:30, 31: “But the soul that doeth aught presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. “
I don't know all there is do know about presumptuous sins, but it would be in my benefit as well as yours to study it further and make sure that we are not guilty of such. II Peter 2:9, 10 says: "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. “The Greek definition for the word here means a daring audacious man. I don't want any part of that verse that describes the unjust to be a description of myself as well. May I always make sure I do all in the name of the Lord (Col. 3:17).
Donna Ribardi
We all have secret faults from time to time that are just between God and ourselves. I earnestly try to work on mine and pray for God to help me have a pure heart and mind. We are to bring every thought unto the obedience of Christ (II Cor. 10:5). We cannot fill our hearts and mind with garbage and expect for them to then be pure. Hence, we have to be extremely careful what we let into our hearts and minds. If something is wrong or worldly and it is in our power to avoid, then we must. We might hear someone in the grocery store use foul language, but we are not forced to turn on a movie or listen to music with the foul language in it. We may have to see immodestly dressed people out in the world, but we do not have to go to the public swimming areas where we are sure to see them. Should we go to the public festivals of our area knowing there is going to be plenty of drinking and barroom activity? No, we should not. We do have the power to guard our hearts and keep it or else God would not have instructed us to do so in Proverbs 4:23. We just have to exercise that power. We have to stop talking ourselves into believing that the sin we let in is justified. This is the presumptuous sin spoken of here. I looked up the word and it means proud, swelling. This is what Barnes commentary had to say about this word in this context:
Presumptuous: "The prevailing thought is that of pride, and the reference is particularly to sins which proceed from self-confidence; from reliance on one's own strength. The word does not mean open sins, or flagrant sins, so much as those which spring from self-reliance or pride."
We have to stop with the thinking, "I can handle it", “I can tune this or that out", or “it is a matter of opinion”. Some things are a matter of opinion, but not the things that fall under the category of that which God calls sin. To me this is a very dangerous area that many Christians face. I face this myself a lot, especially being married to a man whose not a Christian. He does not understand some of the things that I must avoid in keeping my heart and mind pure before God. This very real danger is ever before me by just being in this world. The severities of presumptuous sins are also referenced in the book of Numbers: Num 15:30, 31: “But the soul that doeth aught presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Because he hath despised the word of the LORD, and hath broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him. “
I don't know all there is do know about presumptuous sins, but it would be in my benefit as well as yours to study it further and make sure that we are not guilty of such. II Peter 2:9, 10 says: "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the Day of Judgment to be punished: But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. “The Greek definition for the word here means a daring audacious man. I don't want any part of that verse that describes the unjust to be a description of myself as well. May I always make sure I do all in the name of the Lord (Col. 3:17).
Donna Ribardi
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
