Serving God -John 12:25-26

I haven't been as good posting lately, (I'm blaming that for a lot of school and being on vacation), but I thought I'd get something in tonight.

"He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor."

Redemption and Mercy -Psalms 130:7-8

"O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities."

Forgiveness With Him -Psalms 130:3-4

"If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O LORD, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared."

A simple promise reminding us of God's amazing forgiveness.

You Have Done It -Psalms 52:7-9

""Here is the man who did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness." But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, Because you have done it; And in the presence of Your saints I will wait on Your name, for it is good."

Christ is All in All -Colossians 3:8-11

I find this promise encouraging as it reminds us of who we are in Christ.

"But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all."

My Rock of Refuge -Psalms 94:20-23

"Shall the throne of iniquity, which devises evil by law, have fellowship with You? They gather together against the life of the righteous, and condemn innocent blood. But the LORD has been my defense, and my God the rock of my refuge. He has brought on them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; The LORD our God shall cut them off."

He Made Alive -Ephesians 1:2

We are alive in Christ.

"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins"

Created for Good Works -Ephesians 2:10

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

This promise is huge. When I'm sinning, all I see is my fallen nature. However, it's important to remember that God made us to do good!

This verse goes even beyond that and points out that God has planned our good works ahead of time!

The Warfare -2 Corinthians 10:3-6

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."

The promise I wanted to point out here is that our weapons as a Christian are "mighty in God"...it's not our strength at work here.

Our Father -2 Corinthians 6:16-18, 7:1

This is such an amazing promise...I read it today, and instantly knew that I wanted to share it.

"And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty."

The beginning of the next chapter really summarizes what our response should be to all of the promises we've seen in 2 Corinthians.

"Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

 

Gathered Out of the Lands -Psalms 107:2-3

This is my last post for Psalms 107...it truly is an amazing chapter, full of promises.

In other words, read the whole chapter! You won't regret it.

"Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south."

While this passage talks about a particular point in time, I think that verse really is, in a sense, a promise towards the future, where those that are saved will be united with Christ.

However, I also think this has application here and now, as we see an example of God's mercy. We can relate this to our lives, understanding that through salvation God has redeemed us, and gathered us out of darkness.

Understand the Lovingkindness of God -Psalms 107:39-43

"When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow, He pours contempt on princes, and causes them to wander in the wilderness where there is no way; Yet He sets the poor on high, far from affliction, and makes their families like a flock. The righteous see it and rejoice, and all iniquity stops its mouth. Whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the lovingkindness of the LORD."

Dry Land into Watersprings -Psalms 107:33-38

This promise is not only about God's judgement, but also about God's provision and faithfulness.

"He turns rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground; A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of those who dwell in it. He turns a wilderness into pools of water, and dry land into watersprings. There He makes the hungry dwell, that they may establish a city for a dwelling place, and sow fields and plant vineyards, that they may yield a fruitful harvest. He also blesses them, and they multiply greatly; And He does not let their cattle decrease."

Healing -Psalms 107:17-22

"Fools, because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, were afflicted. Their soul abhorred all manner of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing."

Bound in Chains -Psalms 107:10-16

This section is a great passage of promise...God will restore those who return to Him.

"Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons--Because they rebelled against the words of God, and despised the counsel of the Most High, Therefore He brought down their heart with labor; They fell down, and there was none to help. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and broke their chains in pieces. Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two."

It Is Good For Me -Psalms 73:27-28

"For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish; You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry. But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all Your works."

Surrounded by Mercy -Psalms 32:10-11

"Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him. Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!"

The Gift of Eternal Life -Romans 6:20-23

"For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Under Grace -Romans 6:12-14

This post is a continuation of yesterday's post...since we are dead to sin and alive in Christ, we are given this command regarding sin...and it ends with a promise.

"Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace."

Live With Him -Romans 6:7-11

"For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord."