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dfroza · 3 years

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why would our Creator make us free

knowing that we would screw things up so badly here on earth?

maybe so we can also choose to love freely from the heart, and to choose to know and believe the God who made us, who is Love. Love seeks to renew our hearts & minds in its sacred truth, and even to renew the temporal body at some point so that it may be transformed into a new eternal body.

Today’s reading of the Scriptures from the New Testament is the 12th chapter of the Letter of Romans where Paul writes about the significance of the choices we make while in a body of earth:

Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God’s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship. Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete.

Because of the grace allotted to me, I can respectfully tell you not to think of yourselves as being more important than you are; devote your minds to sound judgment since God has assigned to each of us a measure of faith. For in the same way that one body has so many different parts, each with different functions; we, too—the many—are different parts that form one body in the Anointed One. Each one of us is joined with one another, and we become together what we could not be alone. Since our gifts vary depending on the grace poured out on each of us, it is important that we exercise the gifts we have been given. If prophecy is your gift, then speak as a prophet according to your proportion of faith. If service is your gift, then serve well. If teaching is your gift, then teach well. If you have been given a voice of encouragement, then use it often. If giving is your gift, then be generous. If leading, then be eager to get started. If sharing God’s mercy, then be cheerful in sharing it.

Love others well, and don’t hide behind a mask; love authentically. Despise evil; pursue what is good as if your life depends on it. Live in true devotion to one another, loving each other as sisters and brothers. Be first to honor others by putting them first. Do not slack in your faithfulness and hard work. Let your spirit be on fire, bubbling up and boiling over, as you serve the Lord. Do not forget to rejoice, for hope is always just around the corner. Hold up through the hard times that are coming, and devote yourselves to prayer. Share what you have with the saints, so they lack nothing; take every opportunity to open your life and home to others.

If people mistreat or malign you, bless them. Always speak blessings, not curses. If some have cause to celebrate, join in the celebration. And if others are weeping, join in that as well. Work toward unity, and live in harmony with one another. Avoid thinking you are better than others or wiser than the rest; instead, embrace common people and ordinary tasks. Do not retaliate with evil, regardless of the evil brought against you. Try to do what is good and right and honorable as agreed upon by all people. If it is within your power, make peace with all people. Again, my loved ones, do not seek revenge; instead, allow God’s wrath to make sure justice is served. Turn it over to Him. For the Scriptures say, “Revenge is Mine. I will settle all scores.” But consider this bit of wisdom: “If your enemy is hungry, give him something to eat. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink; because if you treat him kindly, it will be like heaping hot coals on top of his head.” Never let evil get the best of you; instead, overpower evil with the good.

The Letter of Romans, Chapter 12 (The Voice)

Today’s paired chapter of the Testaments is the 31st chapter of the book (scroll) of Isaiah where warning is given because of trusting in Egypt’s power with their horses and chariots and drivers instead of placing trust in God:

[Isaiah 31]

O how bad it will be for you who look to the south

to Egypt for help and depend on her horses,

Who trust in its many chariots and fix your hopes on its strong drivers.

Yet you do not look to the Holy One of Israel for relief

or even bother to consult Him.

God is both wise and willing to wreak disaster;

He does not second guess Himself or backtrack on what He says.

God will amass all divine power against those who do evil

and against whoever aids and abets them.

As for Egypt, why do you rely on them?

They are great, yes,

but merely human, not God—their steeds just creatures, not spirits.

But when the Eternal reaches out and makes His power felt,

those who lent their help will stumble; those who looked for help will fall.

Together they will be routed and killed.

Eternal One (to Isaiah): Just as a lion or a young lion fiercely growls over his prey,

even while shepherds band together to fight him off,

A lion won’t be scared off by their shouts

or deterred by their noise and threatening gestures.

So, too, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, will descend

to defend Mount Zion and its hill without fail.

As birds hover protectively over their nests

so the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, will guard Jerusalem from all harm.

Not only that, but God will protect and save it,

rescue and keep it.

So give up, children of Israel. Return, people of promise, to God against whom you so blatantly rebelled. For in that day you’ll see the worthlessness of the idols you so wickedly made, and everyone will throw away their gods of silver and gold.

Eternal One: And then, the one you fear, Assyria, will fall and be defeated,

not by the sword of man but by the sword of God.

It will try to escape the edge of the blade,

but its young men will be captured and put to forced labor.

The very thing the Assyrians thought was permanent

will disappear into thin air, fleeing in fear;

And the discipline of their military will come to nothing.

They’ll panic and run.

This is what the Eternal, whose fire burns in Zion, whose furnace blazes in Jerusalem, has said.

The Book (Scroll) of Isaiah, Chapter 31 (The Voice)

A link to my personal reading of the Scriptures for friday, july 9 of 2021 with a paired chapter from each Testament of the Bible along with Today’s Proverbs and Psalms

A post by John Parsons that looks at True illumination:

These are indeed dark days, and it is difficult not to be seduced by the profanity and fear of this evil world... The mass media is controlled to run its scripts; the love of many runs cold; and people are living in fear of the "pestilence that walketh in darkness" and the "destruction that wasteth at noonday." So what do we do but encourage ourselves to look to the LORD for His salvation? We groan; we lament; we protest: "How long O LORD?" And yet we resolve to make our refuge in God's promises "until these calamities be overpast...."

As a seed planted within soil seeks life by "reaching" for the sun, so our souls are drawn upward by the desire for God. The Lord calls us “out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet. 2:9); he calls us to awaken, to grow, and to come to the fullness of his life (John 10:10). Being called "out of darkness" means being set free of those spiritual forces that attempt to hold us captive. When we turn to the Divine Light for our sustenance and healing, we are set free from the pain of our fears and the insanity of evil (Acts 26:18). As it is written: "God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power (δύναμις) and of love (ἀγάπη), and of a "sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7). The Greek word "sound mind" (σωφρονισμός) comes from the verb sodzo (σῴζω), meaning "to save," from saos (σάος) "safe," in the sense of being under care and influence of the Spirit of God. "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). Heeding the truth of Yeshua grounds you in what is real and reveals your identity and provision as a child of God, as it is written: "For you are my lamp (כִּי־אַתָּה תָּאִיר נֵרִי), O LORD, and my God lightens my darkness." [Hebrew for Christians]

7.8.21 • Facebook

and another post about guarding our words:

The practice of "speaking truth" and being honest and straightforward (i.e., yashar: יָשָׁר) with ourselves and others is called dibbur emet (דברי אמת). Dibbur emet is the principle of using language with integrity and justice. “These are the things you are to do: speak truth (דַּבְּרוּ אֱמֶת) to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace” (Zech. 8:16; see also Lev. 19:11; Eph. 4:25, Col. 3:9, among other verses). Note that dibbur emet also forbids spreading gossip, sharing worthless news reports, expressing contempt, mockery, or outrage over the viewpoints of others, and so on. An honest person doesn't play games with words but understands that communication is a sacred trust. Our words are to be regarded as sacred, as an expression of truth. God has made us inviolable promises, and we are never to play games with that. Just as His word is sacred, so we should strive to be sacred in our speech, too.

"Guarding the tongue," that is, watching what you say and being careful not to use words abusively or foolishly is called shemirat ha'lashon (שמירת הלשון). "What person is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it." (Psalm 34:12-14). "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3). And as King David prayed: “Let my words and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer" (Psalm 19:14). [Hebrew for Christians]

7.9.21 • Facebook

Today’s message (Days of Praise) from the Institute for Creation Research

July 9, 2021

A Mind to Work

“So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” (Nehemiah 4:6)

The ambitious project of rebuilding Jerusalem’s wall, with all its gates and other structures, was completed in less than two months (Nehemiah 6:15), for all “the people had a mind to work.” This was in spite of the danger from the external enemies who wanted to delay the work if they could.

The third chapter of Nehemiah has a remarkable list of the workmen on the wall. Men of all walks of life participated, each with an assigned portion of the work as organized by Nehemiah. The first verse of the chapter tells of the work done by Eliashib, the high priest, and all the other priests; the last verse lists the contribution of the goldsmiths and the merchants. There were the Nethinims (v. 26), apothecaries (v. 8), rulers (i.e., “mayors,” vv. 9, 12, 14-16), and various others. At least one man even had his daughters working (v. 12). Only the nobles of the Tekoites “put not their necks to the work of their LORD” (v. 5).

This would be a good model for any doctrinally sound, Bible-believing church, school, or other Christian ministry. It’s a lesson we would do well to learn. The mission and its goal are surely more important than the special desires or interests of any individual or group. At the same time, enforced cooperation will only breed resentment and inefficiency. The people themselves must be led to understand it as not just a job to do, but as a divine calling they themselves must have “a mind to the work.” Otherwise they should probably be encouraged to work elsewhere.

The early Christians served “daily with one accord...and singleness of heart,...And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved” (Acts 2:46-47). That’s the way it should be. HMM

A tweet by illumiNations:

@IlluminationsBT: Meet one of our illumiNations partners - American Bible Society @americanbible. Learn more at: https://americanbible.org

7.9.21 • 12:01pm • Twitter

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