Recipe for Life

[brinny]

Well, what happened to Job in the first few chapters (and some parts later too, like getting judged and reproached when innocent also) will happen to you, me, everyone.

Just slower, not so much all-at-once, but in pieces, and then a lot at once during the end of this body, as we lose all here. Like Job, then we need to keep faith in God!, and will be rewarded, as he was.

Your first paragraph (4th line down) is perhaps a partially profound summary of the "heart" of understanding the book of Job.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Perhaps....but crisis points are usually the best times for revelations. Wine might have dulled his pain but also his perceptions.

That was actually kind of my point.

I apologize if I seemed to be saying otherwise.

 

[Targaryen]

Sorry Anastasia...I've been away from CF for a while so I'm a bit rusty

 

[~Anastasia~]

Sorry Anastasia...I've been away from CF for a while so I'm a bit rusty

No need to apologize.

And I didn't see who I was replying to ... how ARE you?!? It's great to see you.

 

[~Anastasia~]

(And I've had the chance to think on just this subject - dulling pain - as it relates to the OP, "enjoying" life, or at least having a deep peace through trusting God. I mention sometimes my dealing with cancer over the last year+. Despite the shock of initial diagnosis, believe it or not, the recovery after the first surgery - while being probably the most profound and prolonged pain in my life up until then, was a most blessed time, and my faith was greatly deepened. And while I had painkillers, I got off them as quickly as possible. Sleeping away the time gets you past it, but is of no benefit. But prayer and putting yourself in God's hands is of great benefit. So no, I don't advocate being pumped full of painkillers or staying drunk. Though on rare occasions, yes, a little wine makes glad for a little while. Just not drunkenness or constant escape.)

 

[Targaryen]

(And I've had the chance to think on just this subject - dulling pain - as it relates to the OP, "enjoying" life, or at least having a deep peace through trusting God. I mention sometimes my dealing with cancer over the last year+. Despite the shock of initial diagnosis, believe it or not, the recovery after the first surgery - while being probably the most profound and prolonged pain in my life up until then, was a most blessed time, and my faith was greatly deepened. And while I had painkillers, I got off them as quickly as possible. Sleeping away the time gets you past it, but is of no benefit. But prayer and putting yourself in God's hands is of great benefit. So no, I don't advocate being pumped full of painkillers or staying drunk. Though on rare occasions, yes, a little wine makes glad for a little while. Just not drunkenness or constant escape.)

First of all Anastasia I am fine, just had aspects of life kick in my door and demand attention. And a certain viewpoint of others around here had me wondering if I was wasting my time. But then that's true for all of us at some point.

Now to your post:

First of all, my prayers for you and your family.

Secondly, it's strange how those moments of even the most abject misery can bring clarity and insight and deepen our faith. I remember when I watched family members on the journey back to the Lord and wondered what these poor people did that required this much pain. but then I saw glimpses of the larger reality, that even when all seems bleak and lost, God moves in various ways, never abandoning you, just moving in ways it's not easy to first interpret.

Do I advocate going teetotal and ignoring pain and dealing with pain, certainly not. But those ways of dealing with things can be a crutch or a blind spot if that is the only thing one does.

 

[~Anastasia~]

First of all Anastasia I am fine, just had aspects of life kick in my door and demand attention. And a certain viewpoint of others around here had me wondering if I was wasting my time. But then that's true for all of us at some point.

Glad to hear that you are well.

Now to your post:

First of all, my prayers for you and your family.

Prayers always appreciated!

Secondly, it's strange how those moments of even the most abject misery can bring clarity and insight and deepen our faith. I remember when I watched family members on the journey back to the Lord and wondered what these poor people did that required this much pain. but then I saw glimpses of the larger reality, that even when all seems bleak and lost, God moves in various ways, never abandoning you, just moving in ways it's not easy to first interpret.

Absolutely. I have had both very blessed times in my life, and some pretty extremely difficult ones (at least from an American perspective). I have nearly always found God to work much more profoundly in the most difficult situations. But sometimes it takes hindsight to appreciate it. It can feel like wandering lost in a desert while going through it, sometimes.

Do I advocate going teetotal and ignoring pain and dealing with pain, certainly not. But those ways of dealing with things can be a crutch or a blind spot if that is the only thing one does.

Right, discretion is the key. It's not much of a problem for me. I don't like the way painkillers make me feel and I don't like the taste of alcohol, so I'm a pretty rare user of either. But there can be benefit in a brief respite at some times. After my last surgery, it was helpful to get a night's rest occasionally, since it was a major surgery, and pain prevented me otherwise.

 

[disciple1]

A short while ago I posted a “formula” I was trying out to make life enjoyable:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord.

It didn’t work. Now I’ve revised the formula, which I now call a “recipe for life”:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord. (Obey his commandments.)
3. Enjoy the glory the Lord gives us when we obey him.
4. Walk with the Lord (as Noah did, Genesis 6:9).
5. Enjoy the safety that comes with obeying the Lord.

(Obey his commandments.)

Galatians chapter 3 verse 17
What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.


So the law introduced 2000 years later also does not set aside the covenant.


1 Peter chapter 4 verse 8
Love covers a great many sins.


No one but Christ ever obeyed the law.


Matthew chapter 25 verses 31-46
When the Son of Man comes" in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. he will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and got visit you? The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.They also will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you? He will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.



Recipe for a good life, is just love, as Christ and God loved us.

 

[disciple1]

A short while ago I posted a “formula” I was trying out to make life enjoyable:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord.

It didn’t work. Now I’ve revised the formula, which I now call a “recipe for life”:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord. (Obey his commandments.)
3. Enjoy the glory the Lord gives us when we obey him.
4. Walk with the Lord (as Noah did, Genesis 6:9).
5. Enjoy the safety that comes with obeying the Lord.

(Obey his commandments.)

Galatians chapter 3 verse 17
What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise.


So the law introduced 2000 years later also does not set aside the covenant.


1 Peter chapter 4 verse 8
Love covers a great many sins.


No one but Christ ever obeyed the law.


Matthew chapter 25 verses 31-46
When the Son of Man comes" in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. he will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and got visit you? The King will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.They also will answer, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you? He will reply, I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me. Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.



Recipe for a good life, is just love, as Christ and God loved us.

 

[dreadnought]

But who has perfect faith? I wish I could say I do, but I can not.

The more perfect our faith, the better off we are. Gives us something to work for.

 

[dreadnought]

But should Job simply accept being numbed to his pain? I suppose wine was available in his day. He could have numbed himself, just as you say. Would it have brought him to God, to trust God even in his trials?

When you are in great pain, you will try to alleviate that pain. There is no sin in that. After the pain goes, you can worry about your spiritual growth.

 

[dqhall]

A short while ago I posted a “formula” I was trying out to make life enjoyable:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord.

It didn’t work. Now I’ve revised the formula, which I now call a “recipe for life”:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord. (Obey his commandments.)
3. Enjoy the glory the Lord gives us when we obey him.
4. Walk with the Lord (as Noah did, Genesis 6:9).
5. Enjoy the safety that comes with obeying the Lord.

One way to be obedient is to become a better witness and not testify falsely. Jesus was condemned by false witnesses. Some people can not lie as long as their lips do not move. God requires better. One may seek knowledge, for a community is made productive by its strength and knowledge.

1 Peter 3:15-17 (WEB)
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear: 16 having a good conscience; that, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing well than for doing evil.

 

[Targaryen]

When you are in great pain, you will try to alleviate that pain. There is no sin in that. After the pain goes, you can worry about your spiritual growth.

No there is no sin in alleviating pain. However, the point was raised, when does alleviation turn into stagnation and just turning to the form of relief as an escape valve?

 

[Yarddog]

A short while ago I posted a “formula” I was trying out to make life enjoyable:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord.

It didn’t work. Now I’ve revised the formula, which I now call a “recipe for life”:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord. (Obey his commandments.)
3. Enjoy the glory the Lord gives us when we obey him.
4. Walk with the Lord (as Noah did, Genesis 6:9).
5. Enjoy the safety that comes with obeying the Lord.

My recipe is trust the Lord.
Let go of the world.
Walk in the Spirit.

 

[Neogaia777]

A short while ago I posted a “formula” I was trying out to make life enjoyable:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord.

It didn’t work. Now I’ve revised the formula, which I now call a “recipe for life”:

1. Trust the Lord.
2. Obey the Lord. (Obey his commandments.)
3. Enjoy the glory the Lord gives us when we obey him.
4. Walk with the Lord (as Noah did, Genesis 6:9).
5. Enjoy the safety that comes with obeying the Lord.

The problem is no one can perfectly "obey" in the sense that I assume you mean it to be...

Since the command is basically summed up in this "always do and be good", key word being "always", of which we all fall short...

I'd say always do your best in this (above), and be humble when you fall short, always talk to and with God about it, then "get up" and try, try, try again, and again... Trying to learn how to do and be better from the experience and improve every time...

And, Love always, for Love covers a multitude of sins and is the only true path that will be the only way for your trying to obey to succeed in the end...

Love is the only way to even possibly fulfill the law... Nothing else and no other method or path will work, of that I can guarantee you...

God Bless!

 

[Bible2+]

dreadnought said in post #1:

5. Enjoy the safety that comes with obeying the Lord.

Obeying the Lord Jesus Christ can indeed lead to safety (Matthew 6:13), even perfect safety (Psalms 91).

But if an obedient Christian nonetheless ends up suffering attacks from evil forces, he shouldn't despair, or think the Lord has somehow abandoned him (Romans 5:3-5).

-

Some Christians look to Luke 10:19 as if it were a promise that it's impossible for God to ever let them suffer.

But if Luke 10:19 refers to physical protection, the verse could have applied only to the 70 (Luke 10:17). If Luke 10:19 applies to the entire Church, it means the power of Satan can't hurt obedient Christians spiritually. For Satan, when allowed by God, can hurt and even kill obedient Christians physically (Revelation 2:10, Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-13). But obedient Christians overcome Satan spiritually even when they're physically killed by him (Revelation 12:11). For they're more than conquerors spiritually even when they're physically led like sheep to the slaughter (Romans 8:36-37). For death is a gain for obedient Christians, as it brings their still-conscious souls into heaven to be with Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:21,23; 2 Corinthians 5:8). So obedient Christians need have no fear of death (Hebrews 2:15).

And at Jesus Christ's future, Second Coming, He will bring with Him from heaven all the souls of all the obedient Christians who have ever died (1 Thessalonians 4:14-15). And they will all be resurrected into immortal physical bodies at that time (1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:21-23,52-53). They will all then reign on the earth with Jesus for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6, Revelation 5:10, Revelation 2:26-29). And sometime after that, they will all live forever on a New Earth (Revelation 21:1 to 22:5). So no matter what evil forces have done to obedient Christians physically in the past, or are doing to them physically now, or in the future, such as during the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 (Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-13), all obedient Christians of all times will ultimately have the victory (1 Corinthians 15:57; 1 John 5:4, Revelation 12:11, Revelation 15:2).

 

[Bible2+]

dreadnought said in post #1:

5. Enjoy the safety that comes with obeying the Lord.

Some obedient Christians look to Ephesians 6:13-17 as if it were a recipe to avoid any suffering in their lives.

But in Ephesians 6:13-17 the armor doesn't necessarily assure physical protection. Instead, it's an assurance of spiritual protection and survival. That is, for Christians to be able to maintain their salvation they must remain in the truth (1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:2-4). And they must remain in righteousness (Hebrews 10:26-29; 1 Corinthians 9:27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21). And they must remain in the Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Colossians 1:23, Mark 8:35-38). And they must remain in the faith of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 2:12, Hebrews 6:4-8). And they must remain in the salvation which comes only through Jesus Christ (John 14:6, John 3:36, Acts 4:12). And they must remain in the Word of God, the Holy Bible (James 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:15-17).

But none of these things assures the physical protection of Christians. Indeed, they're the very reason Christian martyrs have been killed by non-Christians from the beginning of the Church down until today, and will be killed by non-Christians during the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24 (Matthew 24:9-13, Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4). So Christians mustn't think the armor of God necessarily assures their physical protection.

Also, regarding "the gospel of peace" (Ephesians 6:15), this can include reference to how Christians are never to teach or use physical violence to assure their physical protection, or for any other reason (Matthew 5:39).

 

[Bible2+]

OrthodoxyUSA said in post #3:

What if you are granted a life like Job's?

Great question, especially for us who could live to enter the horrible, future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24.

For Job should be looked to by obedient Christians as an example of patient endurance through suffering (James 5:11). Just as God allowed Satan to bring suffering to righteous Job (Job chapters 1-2), so God sometimes allows Satan to bring suffering to even obedient Christians (Revelation 2:10). And during the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, Satan will be allowed to unleash his wrath against even obedient Christians (not in hiding) in every nation (Revelation 12:9,17, Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Revelation 20:4-6, Matthew 24:9-13).

By the power of Satan working against Job (Job 1:12), he first suffered the loss of his wealth and servants from murderous robbers (Job 1:14-15,17) and a natural disaster (Job 1:16), and suffered the death of all his children in a natural disaster (Job 1:18-19). Then, again by the power of Satan working against him (Job 2:6), Job suffered the loss of his health (Job 2:7). But he remained patient through all his loss and suffering, never cursing God because of it (Job 2:9-10, Job 1:20-22), but wholly trusting in God through it all (Job 13:15).

Because of this, God greatly rewarded Job after his suffering was over, giving him twice as much wealth as he had before (Job 42:10,12, Job 1:3) and the same number of children as he had before (Job 42:13, Job 1:2), and giving him a very long life (Job 42:16), so that he lived to see his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren (Job 42:16). While he was still suffering, Job mistakenly thought his suffering was God's wrath against him (Job 19:11), when in fact God had no wrath against him, because he was righteous in God's eyes (Job 1:1,8, Job 2:3). Instead, Job was suffering from the hand of Satan (Job 1:12, Job 2:7). Similarly, during the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24, the suffering of obedient Christians won't be God's wrath against them, but Satan's wrath against them (Revelation 12:9,17, cf. Revelation 2:10).

God allowed Satan to bring loss and suffering to Job in order to prove Job didn't love God just because God had made him wealthy and secure (Job 1:9-12) and healthy (Job 2:4-6), but that Job would continue to love and trust God even if all his wealth, family and health were stripped away from him. Indeed, Job would have continued to love God even if God had killed him (Job 13:15). This is the kind of love for God which Christians will need to have during the future Tribulation of Revelation chapters 6 to 18 and Matthew 24. They will need to continue to love God even when he allows Satan (the dragon) and the future Antichrist (the individual-man aspect of Revelation's "beast") to make war against Biblical Christians (not in hiding) and to physically overcome them in every nation (Revelation 12:9,17, Revelation 13:7-10, Revelation 14:12-13, Matthew 24:9-13), stripping away all their wealth and family and leading them away to be beheaded (Revelation 20:4-6). Christians must so love God and so trust him that they have no fear of suffering or death (Revelation 2:10, Hebrews 2:15), knowing even death will only bring their still-conscious souls into the presence of Jesus Christ in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8, Luke 23:43, Revelation 6:9-10), which is far better than remaining in this fallen world (Philippians 1:21,23).

Christians mustn't love their mortal lives to where they will deny Jesus Christ and the Bible in order to keep from getting killed (Mark 8:35-38, John 12:25, Revelation 12:11), just as Christians mustn't love their families to the point where they will deny Jesus Christ and the Bible in order to keep their families from starving or getting killed (Matthew 10:37, Luke 14:26). And Christians mustn't love their wealth to the point where they will deny Jesus Christ and the Bible in order to keep their wealth from being taken away (Matthew 6:24; 1 Timothy 6:9-10, Hebrews 10:34). Jesus Christ requires Christians to forsake everything, even their own lives, for His sake (Luke 14:33, Luke 9:23, Matthew 10:38-39), just as He forsook everything (2 Corinthians 8:9), even His own life, for their sake (Philippians 2:6-8; 2 Corinthians 5:15; 1 Corinthians 15:3).

1 Peter 4:12 ¶Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

 

[dreadnought]

No there is no sin in alleviating pain. However, the point was raised, when does alleviation turn into stagnation and just turning to the form of relief as an escape valve?

It is always in our best interests to be trying to improve ourselves. When the pain has been alleviated, it's time to get back to work. This is no grand revelation.

 

[dreadnought]

My recipe is trust the Lord.
Let go of the world.
Walk in the Spirit.

That would be numbers one and four of my "recipe." I seem to need all five elements.