FOCUS on the PRESENT and LIVE!
By Martha Gibson

“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. (2) But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.  (3) But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,  (4) whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.  (5) For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.  (6) For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

( II Corinthians 4:1-6).

As true believers of God Divine, we have been given the greatest ministry.  Since we have it, let us not lose heart as the scripture above tells us.  I say to everyone reading this right now, focus on the present and live!

 God has given us the most precious gift that can be given……..LIFE…..and with all we know we should now be more of a manifestation of His glory than ever before.  How long will we continue to allow the enemy to have rule over us?  It is now time for every individual to focus on the present and particularly their own life, and work on getting rid of all the things that hinders them.  I’ve always believed that the best place to start is with oneself.  We have to fully understand that first person “I”.  Because say what you will, everything you attempt in life will start and stop with you!

 Now I don’t want you to explore that old egotistical sense of “I”, but the true “I”, your essential being.  To get started, here are a few questions you can ask yourself:  (1) How do I see myself?  (2) How do I really look at life?  (3) In what I know about the true and living God, do I really believe the sky is the limit, or do I restrict and limit myself?  I believe that if we examine these questions carefully as it pertains to our own life, we will find that most of what we do, or are preparing to do, is related mostly to our past, and what we’ve done.  We are afraid to venture into the present, because the past for most of us is a familiar and comfortable place.

A lot of times we stay in places that are not expedient for our lives because we tell ourselves this is the way we’ve always done it, or this is just the way I am.  If you use those excuses, then you can see that you’re using more of your past to dictate your present.  Saints we are robbed of greater spiritual benefits because we are hanging on to past experiences and attitudes.  If you really want to see more clearly and be more of a positive individual in this life, you need to break down those barriers of restriction and limited thinking.

Each of us were born with potential talents and capabilities, but we are in a stage of life that is requiring us to go beyond what is familiar, and make it all anew.  We should be working more on getting our bodies glorified so that the Saints can start a ripple effect in the earth that will change the dynamics of this world; namely sin and death!

The more we think on Godly things, ( harmony, peace, joy, freedom, love) the more expressive we will become with others in the earth who will be drawn to that loving kindness.  When we align ourselves with the attributes of the great “I AM”, we will start representing a life in Christ that is pure, whole, and perfect.  So let’s start right now working on the removal of all unrighteousness out of our lives and become more of an expression of the true and living God.  Focus now on the present and live, and by so doing, you will know that Life is Right!

 

A Steward of the Gospel of Truth

“People should think of us as servants of Christ, the ones God has trusted with his secrets.”  (ICorinthians 4:1)

            I greet each of you in the beauty of holiness, and in the spirit of Triumph, ALL HAIL!.  I are thanking God for this moment in time, where He is still blessing, and I am yet alive.  I wish to briefly talk to you today concerning stewardship. 

            Being a steward gives you the authority to make sound and wise decisions on what you have been put in charge of, and as ministers of the gospel, this is something we can’t take lightly. As the scripture tells us above, Paul said we should think of ourselves as servants of Christ who God has trusted with his secrets.  And it is something most valuable when we show that we are worthy of that trust.  But even more so, every individual who has confessed Jesus as Lord of their lives, should know that they too are now stewards. 

            Whenever we are in situations that bring Christ closer to us, we are responsible for revealing that to our fellowman.  It’s what some would call evangelism.  It only shows that we have been entrusted with the Gospel at some point in our lives, so we need to share that with others!  Where do we share it you might ask?  At home, at school, at work, or even at play.  We should always be on the lookout for an opportunity to share the good news, for it is most certain that we hear and see enough of the evil.

            We have been praying for change in our country, and finally we are about to witness a historical event that even I (and I don’t consider myself old), that I didn’t think I would ever witness.  But it just goes to show you, that if you are faithful over a few things, God will make you ruler over many.  But let us not as a people get distracted and think that President Elect Obama is going to do it for us.  He isn’t.  Each of us must begin making this vital transition by working on ourselves and start anew, being a good steward over our life!  This is the most precious gift that God has given us, and it is well past the time that we start working on these bodies so that they maybe a radiating light in this dark cruel world.  And then, when you get your life in order, the ministry that you have been assigned to in the church will began to manifest itself from glory to glory!

            There is some suffering that will occur for real change to take place.  But when you suffer for Christ sake as stewards of the gospel of truth, your labor will not be in vain.  Paul put it best this way in Colossians 1: 24-29: “I am happy in my sufferings for you.  There are things that Christ must still suffer through his body, the church.  I am accepting, in my body, my part of these things that must be suffered.  I became a servant of the church because God gave me a special work to do that helps you, and that work is to tell fully the message of God.  This message is the secret that was hidden from everyone since the beginning of time, but now it is made known to God’s holy people.  God decided to let his people know this rich and glorious secret which he has for all people.  This secret is Christ Himself, who is in you!  He is our only hope for glory.  So we continue to preach Christ to each person, using all wisdom to warn and to teach everyone, in order to bring each one into God’s presence as a mature person in Christ.  To do this, I work and struggle, using Christ’s great strength that works so powerfully in me.”  AMEN.  God bless each of you, and live!

 As a good steward in sharing the gospel of the kingdom, I maintain that Life Is Right!

Don’t Be Afraid to DEAL With YOURSELF

             All Hail!  We are approaching the 2009 year seemingly with rapid speed.  However, time has not changed, but rather many things are going on in the earth that has most of us hurrying and scurrying toward a great significance in our world’s history.  The soon to be Inauguration of the first African American President has affected for some, what seems to be the earth moving full speed ahead. 

            Like most of America, I am grateful to see this history making event in my lifetime, and I’m glad that my mother is alive and well to witness it too.  But besides what is about to take place in our world’s history, every individual has yet to deal with what is unfolding in themselves.  God is working in us, giving us the desire to obey Him and the power to do what pleases Him. (Philippians 2:13).  As for some, we have become guilty of being disobedient, not practicing the principles of Christ that we know or have learned, and it is causing chaos in our life because we simply don’t want to deal with ourselves.

            You know it’s always been somewhat fascinating to me that man wants you to pray for him/her, give instruction, but whatever is really going on inside of them, they simply refuse to deal.  Why is it so hard to address negativity in us?  We had a beautiful School of Wisdom this past Sunday (as all our lessons are), and we discovered in our lesson that the purpose of the church is to put mankind in a closer touch and connection with God.  That’s a place that we all long to be.   It went on to say that God is tired of man being separated and distant from him.  In Outline number three; ARE YOU READY, it stated that whatever state you are caught in, will be where you remain; you will not be able to change.  So has it not clicked in us yet that we must deal with ourselves as faithfully as we believe that God can deliver us out?

            The Lord pressed upon my heart that we have been reading, studying, praying, being preached to, being taught too, but yet some of us refuse to move and allow God to work His perfect work in us.  We say we want more God, we want more peace, joy, and the experience of an agape love, but we are not willing to deal truthfully with ourselves and address the issues at hand that is working contrary to what we say we want.

            Saints, it’s past the time that our lives in the earth should be more reflective of a positive expression of who God is!  2008 marked a New Beginning; for some to catch up, to make up, to put up, or shut up.  Whichever is was for you, you should now be in position, or getting in position, so that the Spirit of the Lord will be shining more brightly in your life as the 2009 year approaches.  We’ve chosen for a theme on this year : “It My Time in 2009.”  We invite the Saints across the Kingdom to share this theme with us, as our light begins to shine brighter across the world for all men to see.  As of the date of this writing, we have 17 days to deal, so when we enter 2009 we should not be lugging the same baggage we’ve had for twenty years.  If you haven’t already, begin right now making a list and checking it twice of identifying all the negative things going on inside of you.  Don’t be afraid to admit what you truly feel, and surely don’t be afraid to seek help and instruction if needed.  The only way you can resolve anything in your life that is not like God, is to admit it, and if you really want to change and make your life better, guess what?  You can.  God is right there waiting patiently for you as He always has been.   So if you’ve tried everything else, try God. He’s the only one that can make a True Believer out of you!

            So I say to you again, “don’t---- be---- afraid---- to---- deal -----with ----you.”  As a child of God, you have been given the power and authority to overcome everything that’s not like Him!  So deal with yourself, and be true to yourself. As was stated in the School of Wisdom lesson again, “Those who have prepared themselves for the acceptance of this Spirit will perfect their soul and bodiy to receive and walk in Eternal Life.”

            May the Lord God continue to bless you as you deal, and remember, that Life Is Right!

 KEEP ON GROWING
”The Sky Is The Limit To What You Can Have”

                                  ABrethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

                                 but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,

                                        and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

                      I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.@

                                                               ( Philippians 3: 13-14)

You have accepted Christ as your Lord and Savior, and confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. You have repented from your old ways, and been converted. But that my friend, is only the beginning of your wonderful new life in Christ.  God rarely will take you to heavenly places the moment you confess and accept Him as Lord of your life.  He has a work for you to do here on earth, and you cannot stop here at the process of conversion, you must keep on growing.

When you were converted from your old way into your new life in Christ, it=s like hatching out of an egg. Long before you were born, even before your conception, Almighty God had >you= in mind.  He had a distinct purpose for you to fulfill on earth and all through eternity.  But guess what?  You will never find that purpose unless you continue to GROW!!!  Simply being hatched is not enough.  You need to fly like an eagle.

Growth is assimilated by multiplication.  When you have learned what the Word of God has to say about the course and direction of your life, you must incorporate that spiritual substance into your consciousness.  The law of growth stems from >beholding.= Our body is the temple of the Living God.  It is divine expression of who God is.  We must behold it as such in order to grow.  If we behold it as anything less than divine, we allow error, sin, and discord to set in.  But if we behold ourselves free from these things, then we are free to keep manifesting full freedom in God, in other words, growing.   That=s why I believe the above scripture; A Brethren I count not myself to have not apprehended, but this one thing I do, I forget the things that are behind me, and press toward the mark of the higher calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The more we decrease, the more God will increase.  But that process starts in your own mind, and it depends on what you are beholding.  I am a living witness as the Bible says in Galatians 6:9; that if I don=t be weary in my well doing, in due season I will reap if I faint not.  That=s growing.  Our conversion effort of being born again was just an event.  It was the experience of moving from darkness into light, from death to life.  But my Salvation (hallelujah), is the process by which I move and grow in God.  It is the process of beholding the things of God, so that I may become like God.  Remember the bible tells us that he thought it not robbery to be equal with Him.

But I realize in this day, since folks have not got the beholding process down, their growth process has become stagnated, and they are STUCK!!!  A lot of times it=s because of our unwillingness and disobedience to want to go any further.  We=re not willing to put our faith in God and take the risks.  We=ve become comfortable in our way, and God forbid if we allow anything to come along and disturb that!  But I tell you today Saints, that anything that is really worth having has a price attached to it.  People who are ready and willing don=t mind paying the price, because they have already established the divine ideas of God, and those ideas have embedded in consciousness.  They see the reward, and not the price!!!  And I tell you, that these are the ones whom God uses in special and anointed ways to shape the existence of this world!!

In Philippians 2:3, Paul told his friends at Philippi Ato continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.@  Our School of Wisdom lesson for the last Sunday in the month gave reference to that scripture.  Quoting from our lesson it states: “Work has meant being on a Board of Elders, teaching Sunday School, cleaning the church, tithing, and volunteering time, as a way of working out your salvation with fear and trembling that otherwise their salvation may be in jeopardy. This is merely man’s way, but this scripture refers to a higher way and of higher thinking.”   I believe this scripture was referring to entering the Kingdom of God, not because you come to church every Sunday, and do a few good deeds here and there, but a daily process of growth; whereby you grow in grace and are conformed to the image of God.  He was saying that your growth demands cooperation with God.  In fact, he said you had at to work at it, then God who works in you through the Holy Ghost, will make it happen.

Paul goes on to warn the church at Philippi in Philippians 3rd chapter, against stopping along the way in their Christian walk with God.  He told them there were more and more things that they had yet to experience in God.  In others words, A YOU MUST KEEP ON GROWING.@   There is danger if you don=t grow.   Read. I Corinthians 9:24-27) The essence of the scripture says this:  In a race, everyone runs, but only one person gets first prize.  So we have to run the race to win.  In order to win, we must deny ourselves many things that would keep us from doing our best.  An athlete does it to win a medal or a silver cup, but we do it for an eternal reward that never disappears.  So we have to run straight to the goal with purpose in every step.  We have to fight to win.  Don=t shadow box or play around.  Like an athlete, you must punish that body, treat it roughly, training it to do what it should, not what it wants to. Paul goes on to say that after enlisting others for the race, that he himself might be declared unfit and ordered to stand aside.  So it was important that he be doing that same thing he was instructing others to do. 

Paul took this thing seriously, just as we should.  He knew that if he stopped growing, and stopped moving forward toward the prize, we could easily fall back into our old life, with its old ways.  So that should be a major focus of ours.  Just because we don=t want to slip, just because we don=t want to go back into a life of sin, just because we don=t want to error in our way, WE SHOULD KEEP ON GROWING!!!!!   Here are a few things we can do daily to accomplish that end:

G – GO to God in prayer daily. (John 15:7)

R -  READ God’s Word daily.  (Acts 17:11)

O -  OBEY God moment by moment (John 14:21)

W – WITNESS for Christ by YOUR Life and Words (Matt. 4:19)

T -  TRUST God for every detail of your life.  (I Peter 5:7)

H – HOLY SPIRIT – Allow God o control and empower your life daily
              (Galatians 5:16,17 and Acts 1:8)

As we prepare to celebrate our upcoming holiday (Founder=s Day - January 20th) in Triumph The Church And Kingdom Of God In Christ, I pray for you, divine blessings of life and living, as you allow the sweet spirit of the Holy Ghost to sanction you with love and peace.  Let us not forget that as we KNOW GOD, we GROW in GOD, and thus SHOW GOD even more in our lives. What a beautiful manifestation it is when GOD shows up in you!

GOD BLESS AS YOU CONTINUE TO GROW,  AND ALWAYS REMEMBER Life Is Right!!!!!

 

WHY DON’T YOU DARE TO BE DIFFERENT?

And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)

There is a rebellion in progress in this world today. It's against moral standards that have been handed down to us from previous times and cultures. The tragedy is that the standards to which the nonconformists eventually conform tend to be worse than those against which they rebel.

Your life in Christ offers you a new and different thing. When you have confessed Christ as your Lord and Savior, and given Him the governing rule in your life, then the world in which you live can seem non-essential because you have the true meaning of what this life is all about.

Young people especially seem to have a problem of not conforming to the world's standards. Yes I know that Christianity is something that challenges you to be different. It asks us to consider who we are and what God wants us to become. It points to the mercies of God by which He became our Father and we became His children. It asks us to probe the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God as the standard for our morality, actions, and ambitions. It begs us to differ from the standards and principles accepted by Godless society, not to let the world squeeze us into its mold or pattern, but to let God remold our minds from within. Yes this is a challenge, because for the most part its not the in thing nor is it popular.

Let us examine what Paul is saying in the above mentioned scripture. He urges believers to open themselves up to transformation (change) rather than conform to the world's ways. This is also saying that the practice of righteousness requires intimate ties. God has created a new thing; a living body. In this body He has given each member gifts that enable us to contribute to the welfare of the whole. To function in this body, we must practice LOVE and SERVE one another. They must strengthen those interpersonal bonds that enable them to minister. If you try it, I guarantee you'll like it. But you must get involved and  Dare To Be Different.

This world (contrary to what it looks like) is a beautiful place to be, and I for one am grateful to my heavenly Father that He chose me to be an earthen vessel in this existence. The living sacrifices and all the challenges that I face are all worth it, because I have my eyes on the prize of the high calling, which to me is LIFE ETERNAL through body transformation. God didn't place us here to die, but to live for Him daily. So don't allow the world to squeeze you into its mold. The world exerts all sorts of pressures to force us to adopt to its way of thinking, but I dare you to be different. We don't have to conform, just be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The mind is viewed as  the capacity to perceive. We're no longer to look at life's challenges as mere human beings, but let our perceptions be reshaped by God's own revelation of reality in the Scriptures.

There is only one way to perceive LIFE from God's perspective, and that is to LIVE IT. But we must live it in the way that GOD chooses for us, not the way of the world. This is our test. Let us make the necessary preparations to pass it! The testing will serve to prove your genuineness of that which is tried. Going back to the above mentioned scripture again, Paul is telling us to trust God's will to be good, TEST your confidence by doing God's will, and you will discover God's way is truly good, pleasing, and perfect!!!

Don't look for the easy way to gain self-gratification and conformity to this world, but look to the way of self-sacrifice and service to the entire body of Christ. A real and true change will take place when your relationship with God becomes intimate and personal. Remember that everything in this world is only for a moment, only those things that are done for Christ are going to last.

I have personal testimony, and that is simply that I HAVE PEACE IN GOD desiring always to do His will and walk in His way, as He has instructed for my life......why? BECAUSE I DARE TO BE DIFFERENT!!!!

Remain blessed as you always remember that……… Life Is Right!

 

We're In This Thing Together

Quoting from the NIV version (Galatians 6: 4,5,6, 10)  Each one should test his own actions,  then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to anybody else, for each one should carry his own load.  Anyone who receives instructions in the word must share all good things with his instructor.  (10) Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

The preservation of the family seems to get a lot of attention these days.  We have read so much about dysfunctional families where members’ roles have become confused.  Family relationships become strained and sometimes break down.

God is concerned about preserving the family, His family of believers.  God is the Father of us all, and since that is the case, that means that ALL men and women are brothers and sisters in a universal family.  In the consciousness of Christ----we are one.

God sacrificed His only Son so that by His sacrifice and glorious resurrection, we all could be part of His family.  While there is one body and one Spirit (according to Ephesians 4:4), there is not always UNITY in the family of believers.  We find that even the believers bicker, criticize, belittle, complain, and blame.  The enemy loves it! Look at the power we hand over to the enemy when we as Saints can’t touch and agree.  Have you stopped to think about this?  Well, if you haven’t thought about it, you need to, because as true believers of God divine, we don’t need to relinquish anything over to the enemy!

God’s command and plan for family unity is clear, that is to be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love; (Ephesians 4:2).  Only with God’s help can we swallow our pride and make peace when we would rather make a point.  Only with the patience of our Lord can we wait for a fellow family member to grow spiritually.  Only with the indwelling of the Spirit can we show forbearance with others as God does with us, making allowances for the mistakes of those who are heirs with us of eternal life.  God’s family is united in Christ, and is called to function together in love!

The church  has got to remain in a place where people can still come and say, I felt love when I entered the doors.  If you are not loving, and constantly making self-evaluations of yourself, you’re going to find yourself giving over to the enemy.  We want to remain the church family that is warm, friendly, caring, but most of all, loving.  We have got to care about one another not only on Sunday, but everyday of our lives.  The church has GOT TO BE the center for the oasis of family love to flow.

We’ve said often that we have got to be walking epistles on earth.  When Jesus was here, He helped and healed people.  We are to do those same things and the greater things by using the influence of God’s word to encourage one another, help the needy, visit the sick, and show RESPECT.  We are to respect our Leader as our Daddy, and listen to his word.  If it’s something we take exception to, then please don’t portray your dislike and disagreement before everyone.  Bite the bullet, SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE and never allow the enemy to have the victory!!!  There are many gifts that God has given to His family and we are to use our gifts to make disciples of all nations.  It’s an awesome task I know, but sometimes we have to sit and endure, or better yet, be still and know.  Yes, it is an awesome task, but our Father is an awesome God, who gave His Son for us, paying that ultimate price, so that you and I could have life, and life abundantly.  Nothing and no one should make you lose sight of that!!!  The awesomeness of God’s power translates into a saving love.

So much is out there to poison our minds and cause betrayal in the body of Christ, so while we are careful with what we don’t feed our minds, let us also be careful with what we do feed our minds.  Even with things that are positive and good, if we’re not careful they can come across negatively to the body of Christ if not delivered properly.  That’s why in all things, we must acknowledge the Lord and make sure He is the one that’s directing us.  Let us keep in mind in everything we do, that we’re in this together, and it’s together that we’re going to be able to stand.

            We should also be mindful of priorities in the family.   You shouldn’t be doing anything outside your house, that you are not doing in your house.  Charity begins at home and then spreads abroad. We need to keep our priorities in order, because God does everything in an orderly manner.  When we confuse our priorities, God’s will so often comes up short, but when we put His will and His desire first, there’s room for those things that ordinarily constitute our lives.  So again I reiterate, consult God to help you keep your priorities straight and put first things first.

Through one person God can bless a whole family, change a community for the better, and inspire an entire congregation.  So if every-ONE will come together and bind our forces in harmony, we can enjoy successful living.  If your minds are stayed on HIM, and you are focused, we can work to bring a nation together through the strength of family unity in the body of believers.  Never forget, you are not alone, and you don’t have to stand alone, and most certainly, you don’t have to be alone.  I’m reminded of the scripture in  Mark 3:33 when Jesus asked; (NIV) “Who are my mother and my brothers? And he answers in verse 34 and 35;  Then he looked at those seated in a circle around Him and said, here are my mother and my brothers! WHOEVER DOES GOD’S WILL is my brother and sister and mother.   

  We are all in a growing process, but I ask that you not rush the process, but keep flowing in the knowing of God’s holy word.  Let it take root in your life, and as our former District Mother Dukes would say.  We must become rooted, grounded and settled down in God.  Through all of our diversities, there is one in thing that’s sure and very sure, and that is, THE MASTER CAN BRING US TOGETHER IN LOVE, BECAUSE WE’RE IN THIS THING TOGETHER!!!

As you remain a part of God’s property, always remember that Life Is Right!

CHRIST ENDURED GREAT PAIN FOR US

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;  who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (3) For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.  (4)  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.  (5) And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:  (6) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  (7) If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons;  for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  (8)  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  (9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence:  shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?  (10) For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.  (11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:  nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  (12) Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; (13) And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.  (HEBREWS 12: 1-13)

     Christ endured the pain for us, and as we endure divine discipline, keep in mind that God is treating us as his own children.  As parents, we have to take steps in disciplining our children simply because we love them.  It’s not always an easy thing for us, and sometimes we end up hurting as much as the children.  The same thing applies when we receive divine discipline from God.  He is our Father, and He wants what is best for us, therefore when we get off course He steps in to correct us.

     If God didn’t chastise us, (his children), it would be like we’re illegitimate and not really his children after all.  When we’re chastised by our parents, we eventually get over the anger and hurt feelings, especially when we understand why the chastisement occurred.  After all, as parents we’re doing the best we know how.  But with God it’s slightly different.  God’s discipline is always right, and it’s good for us because it means we will share in his holiness.  Discipline of any kind isn’t the most enjoyable thing while it’s happening, but afterwards, there is a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

     Jesus modeled the ultimate in endurance so that we would be encouraged to keep our faith strong in the race of life.  As we grow and mature, this race will have its ups and downs, and there will be times when we will want to give up.  But we must keep our eyes on the prize, and remember what the race is all about.  Furthermore, we should remain grateful that we have someone in our life who loves us enough to correct us when we stray.   

     So I say to myself, as I say to each of you, let us get a grip and stand firm and mark a straight path so that those who are following us, though they sometimes get weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.  Besides that, if there’s no pain, there will not be any gain.  So remain strong and endure as Christ endured, and never forget that through it all, Life….. Is….. Right!

 

    

 

 

 

CHRIST ENDURED GREAT PAIN FOR US

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;  who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  (3) For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.  (4)  Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.  (5) And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:  (6) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  (7) If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons;  for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  (8)  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  (9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence:  shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?  (10) For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.  (11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous:  nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  (12) Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; (13) And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.  (HEBREWS 12: 1-13)

     Christ endured the pain for us, and as we endure divine discipline, keep in mind that God is treating us as his own children.  As parents, we have to take steps in disciplining our children simply because we love them.  It’s not always an easy thing for us, and sometimes we end up hurting as much as the children.  The same thing applies when we receive divine discipline from God.  He is our Father, and He wants what is best for us, therefore when we get off course He steps in to correct us.

     If God didn’t chastise us, (his children), it would be like we’re illegitimate and not really his children after all.  When we’re chastised by our parents, we eventually get over the anger and hurt feelings, especially when we understand why the chastisement occurred.  After all, as parents we’re doing the best we know how.  But with God it’s slightly different.  God’s discipline is always right, and it’s good for us because it means we will share in his holiness.  Discipline of any kind isn’t the most enjoyable thing while it’s happening, but afterwards, there is a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

     Jesus modeled the ultimate in endurance so that we would be encouraged to keep our faith strong in the race of life.  As we grow and mature, this race will have its ups and downs, and there will be times when we will want to give up.  But we must keep our eyes on the prize, and remember what the race is all about.  Furthermore, we should remain grateful that we have someone in our life who loves us enough to correct us when we stray.   

     So I say to myself, as I say to each of you, let us get a grip and stand firm and mark a straight path so that those who are following us, though they sometimes get weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.  Besides that, if there’s no pain, there will not be any gain.  So remain strong and endure as Christ endured, and never forget that through it all, Life….. Is….. Right!