by Wendy Elizabeth Middleton
Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4
Christianity is a marathon, not a sprint. Salvation is the beginning, not the end. When you invite Jesus into your life your old life is over and your new life has just begun, and this relationship will live and grow for the rest of your life. Whether that is 9 minutes or 90 years you must “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1
In order to run the race and not grow weary we must build up our stamina for “physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things”
1 Timothy 4:8
Faith has a hunger that needs to be assuaged. Faith has muscles that need to be exercised. We must eat a healthy diet and workout daily to build our endurance.
Fortunately we have a feast laid out before us in the word of God. This is our daily bread, the meat and potatoes of a healthy diet. We need to read the Bible, all of it, in daily doses. From the eye to the mind, from the mind to the heart, the word of God is our guiding light. The more familiar we are with the word of God the less likely we are to stumble along the way to the finish line.
Cleanliness is next to Godliness, is a great hygiene statement, and the blood of Christ will wash us white as snow is a great Biblical statement. (see Revelation 7:14) Cleanliness is next to Godliness sounds Biblical but it is not actually from the Bible, and the only way to know that for sure is to study the Bible. The only way to test what other people say about the Bible is to compare their words against the Word of God. And God always wins the argument.
If you try to base your faith on just one part of the Bible, or just one verse in the Bible then you are going to miss a lot of what God has to say.
Fortunately we have a feast laid out before us in the word of God. This is our daily bread, the meat and potatoes of a healthy diet. We need to read the Bible, all of it, in daily doses. From the eye to the mind, from the mind to the heart, the word of God is our guiding light. The more familiar we are with the word of God the less likely we are to stumble along the way to the finish line.
Cleanliness is next to Godliness, is a great hygiene statement, and the blood of Christ will wash us white as snow is a great Biblical statement. (see Revelation 7:14) Cleanliness is next to Godliness sounds Biblical but it is not actually from the Bible, and the only way to know that for sure is to study the Bible. The only way to test what other people say about the Bible is to compare their words against the Word of God. And God always wins the argument.
If you try to base your faith on just one part of the Bible, or just one verse in the Bible then you are going to miss a lot of what God has to say.
"Suffer not a witch to live" Exodus 22:18 is in the Bible, along with "the adulteress must be put to death." Leviticus 20:10 but so is "while we were still sinners Jesus died for us" Romans 5:8. Us being you, and me, the witch and the adulterer.
The New Testament is the Gospel but the Gospel is based on the promises made in the Old Testament, and reading the Old Testament is fundamental to truly understanding the history long plan of Almighty God.
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4
Along with a healthy diet one must have a daily exercise regime, so work those arm muscles and heft that Bible every day, and take a few deep knee bends before Almighty God.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3
There is power in the name of Jesus and it comes from an intimate relationship with Him. The devil will tempt, distract, and attack you at every turn. But talking to the Father, in the name of Jesus, on a daily basis will overcome the most tempting, distracting lures at the devils disposal. And if he does knock you down, stay on your knees and cry out to the Father, in the name of Jesus, and God will lift you up again.
It in not our strength that overcomes this world, it is Jesus who has overcome the world and who supports us through our darkest hour. And in that darkest hour remember that even though you cannot see in the dark – God can.
In order to make it through the storms of life we must be able to endure the pounding waves. The only way to do that is with the encouragement of the word, the assurance of salvation through the blood of Jesus, strength from the indwelling Holy Spirit, and all because of the great love that the Father has for us.
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:12-13
Simple – Ain’t – Easy
Standing Firm is really hard sometimes
But it is worth it
Wendy
The New Testament is the Gospel but the Gospel is based on the promises made in the Old Testament, and reading the Old Testament is fundamental to truly understanding the history long plan of Almighty God.
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4
Along with a healthy diet one must have a daily exercise regime, so work those arm muscles and heft that Bible every day, and take a few deep knee bends before Almighty God.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:2-3
There is power in the name of Jesus and it comes from an intimate relationship with Him. The devil will tempt, distract, and attack you at every turn. But talking to the Father, in the name of Jesus, on a daily basis will overcome the most tempting, distracting lures at the devils disposal. And if he does knock you down, stay on your knees and cry out to the Father, in the name of Jesus, and God will lift you up again.
It in not our strength that overcomes this world, it is Jesus who has overcome the world and who supports us through our darkest hour. And in that darkest hour remember that even though you cannot see in the dark – God can.
In order to make it through the storms of life we must be able to endure the pounding waves. The only way to do that is with the encouragement of the word, the assurance of salvation through the blood of Jesus, strength from the indwelling Holy Spirit, and all because of the great love that the Father has for us.
Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. Matthew 24:12-13
Simple – Ain’t – Easy
Standing Firm is really hard sometimes
But it is worth it
Wendy
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