{The Beatitudes}
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for their shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for their shall see God. Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called Sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. {Matthew 5:3-11)
I like the word, "faith-practice". It means something to me that can be applied DIRECTLY to the Believer.
What I mean is, "faith" is a very easy thing to PROFESS. I can say that I am a native American but my appearance will EASILY tell you something MUCH different. I am a white caucasian and it's quite obvious to anyone who would care to look at me. And I know that this sounds like a quite silly example to use, but being a Christian is much, MUCH more than just SAYING that you are one. You have to practice what you preach or it will show.
I feel that it is a Christian fact that a "true Believer" WILL NOT be spiritually selfish. There are the "needy" all around us and, if we are not reaching out to them, then I have to SERIOUSLY doubt that ANY AND ALL professed Believers are kidding themselves AND others around them if they are not OBVIOUSLY reaching out to these "needy" folk.
.........
Dear God, please help me to continue reaching outside of myself. And thank You for teaching me that Christianity is much, MUCH more than just Jesus and me. Remind me, Lord, that I MUST reach out to others if I am going to think that I will one wonderful day be in Heaven with You. Please keep me on fire for You, Father. Thank You. Tommy
..........
Giving to others is exercise and fresh air for our soul, even on the very simplest level. Try it and find out for yourself. If we are to avoid sluggishness in the practice of our faith, we need to irrigate this soul of ours in the joys and sorrows of others, don't you think?
Let us be intentional in this by bringing God's Blessings to others in the simplest of ways. Approach other people personally, letting each person be different for you, as you treat EACH differently, depending on who they are. If some are meek or frail, then be gentle. If some are bold or outspoken, then be funny and laugh out loud with them. If some are hurt or crippled or sick, then touch them softly and offer your help. Mostly, my friend, depend upon the Holy Spirit to guide you in your efforts to help others. Yes, don't be too withdrawn to not sense your responsibility to follow Jesus' steps.
Diseases of the soul can be as complicated as the diseases of the body. Anyone who isn't helping others IN THE SMALLEST OF WAY, is not a complete person in one way or another.
..........
My point in this post is the question: "What should we each seek when we reach out to others?"
1- seek to be compassionate and look people in the eye, as hard as that may seem for many to do. If we let our own goals of ministry lead us, then we might be MIS-LED, OK? Look at and listen to people and let the Holy Spirit guide you, as to what to do or say, or not-do or not-say. This is vital, I am sure. From my own personal experience I have found that a person's ministry should NEVER be a lonely struggle. LET God help you help others !
2- seek to remember to always be humble. Sin HAS damaged us all. ALL of us have an inner nature which has been corrupted by our ego and high self-esteem. Admit this ONE fact, and I am sure half your battles will fall down as things that never got to happen in your life. REMEMBER THIS: Where do you think you would be right now if God hadn't FIRST reached out to YOU ?????
I heard the analogy once that we ALL are like a big, burning stick lying with its end in a VERY HOT fire. Those of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ have been pulled out of that fire and have had the flames consuming us be extinguished by God's Love. WE ALL REMAIN SCARRED, but are no longer burning in our sinful habits. Please think about this, OK? Be not afraid to look at the charred parts of you. We have all been damaged deeply one way or another. OUR SELF-SIGHT determines EACH of our ministries.
Jesus' death on The Cross saved us from the fire of our habitual sin, yet the charred parts of us will remain charred until the Mighty Day He returns to gather us unto Him.
3- always be so very thankful of God's Grace and Mercy, my friend in Him. I ask you again, "Just where would you be right now if God hadn't had mercy on You? Let Him use you. YOUR story can show other sinners that they, too, can be pulled from their own fire. Yes, help snatch OTHERS from that same fire you were once in.
4- finally, be courageous in your thoughts of helping others, when you stop to remember that Jesus went into the fire of Hell Himself, so He could one day pull YOU out !!!
He had the scars on His Hands to prove it.
May the Holy Spirit speed you into your ministries!
tommy2
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for their shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for their shall see God. Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called Sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in Heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. {Matthew 5:3-11)
I like the word, "faith-practice". It means something to me that can be applied DIRECTLY to the Believer.
What I mean is, "faith" is a very easy thing to PROFESS. I can say that I am a native American but my appearance will EASILY tell you something MUCH different. I am a white caucasian and it's quite obvious to anyone who would care to look at me. And I know that this sounds like a quite silly example to use, but being a Christian is much, MUCH more than just SAYING that you are one. You have to practice what you preach or it will show.
I feel that it is a Christian fact that a "true Believer" WILL NOT be spiritually selfish. There are the "needy" all around us and, if we are not reaching out to them, then I have to SERIOUSLY doubt that ANY AND ALL professed Believers are kidding themselves AND others around them if they are not OBVIOUSLY reaching out to these "needy" folk.
.........
Dear God, please help me to continue reaching outside of myself. And thank You for teaching me that Christianity is much, MUCH more than just Jesus and me. Remind me, Lord, that I MUST reach out to others if I am going to think that I will one wonderful day be in Heaven with You. Please keep me on fire for You, Father. Thank You. Tommy
..........
Giving to others is exercise and fresh air for our soul, even on the very simplest level. Try it and find out for yourself. If we are to avoid sluggishness in the practice of our faith, we need to irrigate this soul of ours in the joys and sorrows of others, don't you think?
Let us be intentional in this by bringing God's Blessings to others in the simplest of ways. Approach other people personally, letting each person be different for you, as you treat EACH differently, depending on who they are. If some are meek or frail, then be gentle. If some are bold or outspoken, then be funny and laugh out loud with them. If some are hurt or crippled or sick, then touch them softly and offer your help. Mostly, my friend, depend upon the Holy Spirit to guide you in your efforts to help others. Yes, don't be too withdrawn to not sense your responsibility to follow Jesus' steps.
Diseases of the soul can be as complicated as the diseases of the body. Anyone who isn't helping others IN THE SMALLEST OF WAY, is not a complete person in one way or another.
..........
My point in this post is the question: "What should we each seek when we reach out to others?"
1- seek to be compassionate and look people in the eye, as hard as that may seem for many to do. If we let our own goals of ministry lead us, then we might be MIS-LED, OK? Look at and listen to people and let the Holy Spirit guide you, as to what to do or say, or not-do or not-say. This is vital, I am sure. From my own personal experience I have found that a person's ministry should NEVER be a lonely struggle. LET God help you help others !
2- seek to remember to always be humble. Sin HAS damaged us all. ALL of us have an inner nature which has been corrupted by our ego and high self-esteem. Admit this ONE fact, and I am sure half your battles will fall down as things that never got to happen in your life. REMEMBER THIS: Where do you think you would be right now if God hadn't FIRST reached out to YOU ?????
I heard the analogy once that we ALL are like a big, burning stick lying with its end in a VERY HOT fire. Those of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ have been pulled out of that fire and have had the flames consuming us be extinguished by God's Love. WE ALL REMAIN SCARRED, but are no longer burning in our sinful habits. Please think about this, OK? Be not afraid to look at the charred parts of you. We have all been damaged deeply one way or another. OUR SELF-SIGHT determines EACH of our ministries.
Jesus' death on The Cross saved us from the fire of our habitual sin, yet the charred parts of us will remain charred until the Mighty Day He returns to gather us unto Him.
3- always be so very thankful of God's Grace and Mercy, my friend in Him. I ask you again, "Just where would you be right now if God hadn't had mercy on You? Let Him use you. YOUR story can show other sinners that they, too, can be pulled from their own fire. Yes, help snatch OTHERS from that same fire you were once in.
4- finally, be courageous in your thoughts of helping others, when you stop to remember that Jesus went into the fire of Hell Himself, so He could one day pull YOU out !!!
He had the scars on His Hands to prove it.
May the Holy Spirit speed you into your ministries!
tommy2
