When things get tough, when you keep going despite hard times...
Jesus said it best, It is I, be of good cheer...take courage!
Do you believe Jesus?
Jesus said!
I am writing fresh lessons I am reminded from the word.
1 Thessalonians 1
I love that Paul always starts his message with grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
He is saying I am greeting you with grace. To me it starts a fresh with I want to live this for myself and I want to extend it to all the believing brother and sisters (he refers to the audience as brothers and sisters). He wants peace. He want others to live amongst each other as the Father communed with us He wants that unity in the body. We can only live in grace and peace if we abide with Jesus.
When having issues in life. We must filter them through the word, Jesus. How he wants us to live, being holy. Not a door-mat or goody-goody. But set apart as a child of God.
This is a powerful reminder for us all. How do we do this? Emotions are high! My inside is rocked!
Good things this happened now, because I think God is always preparing us for the future. Maybe we will even have higher emotions. We have to set aside the emotion with God. Cry! Rant! Be sad! Feel it with Him!
Jesus felt things with God in Gethsemane! Then dealt with the matter in spirit and truth.
How are you doing? God asks, "How are you doing?" Tell Him really how you are doing!
Cry! Say, "NOT GOOD". Be honest!
Be honest. repent, tell the truth to HIM!
Jesus came that we may have LIFE!
LIFE as in time!
In the greek zoe is life! Eternal. The soul separated from materialism and circumstances. This life is only in Him. The first Adam was born with Zoe life but three it away when he took control and ate of from the tree of knowledge. From that day forward life pointed to the new for a savior. Jesus came to give us this ZOE LIFE.
The thief came to rob and destroy, but Jesus came that we may have life=zoe and have it abundantly. He is not robbing us or destroying us, but saving us from destruction of life and no eternal life later. He gives us what we are lacking her on earth and forgiveness then when we take our last breath we are ushered into eternal life with Christ. He lives! He wants you to have more life, that equals perspective from Him as we pray and seek Him with our whole heart.
The baby Jesus teaches us this from HIS miraculous birth.
"Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father[a] is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2:15-17)
