Whatever you do...

[missmuffet]

44 minutes ago, Reinitin said:

Serve their flesh or serve God I imagine:)

Yes, everyone on this earth has a choice of where they want to spend their eternity. 

[Reinitin]

4 minutes ago, missmuffet said:

Yes, everyone on this earth has a choice of where they want to spend their eternity. 

Yes ma'am  Amen and choice what we will do with each and every moment of our time here before judgement. Amazing what people will do to avoid that unavoidable  last moment. 

Edited December 8, 2021 by Reinitin

[Sower]

Whatever you do...

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:
for ye serve the Lord Christ.   Colossians 3:23-24

Whatsoever you do, do it from the heart, as to the Lord, and not to men:
 

[Mike Mclees]

On 12/8/2021 at 7:52 AM, MrBear said:

I agree with this

Think of the Law like a mirror

you wake up and look in the mirror it shows you that your hair is a mess, you might have crusty in your eye 

BUT. The mirror can’t brush your hair it can’t wash your face, it can just show you these things,. Same with the Law it can show you where you need to improve but it can’t do it for you

As Paul says

Galatians 1:14

And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely azealous was I for bthe traditions of my fathers ?

Paul was beyond the other Pharisees , he was zealous and without a doubt thought he was walking in Righteousness 

BUT then Jesus himself opened Paul’s eyes to the REAL LAW , Gods Law

Romans 7:7

What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet 

What happened to that Pharisee beyond his peers? 
He looked in the mirror and realized he had been sinning the whole time, the law exposed his weakness in his life and it does the same for us believers 

He goes on to say then is the Law a sin?!

then answers himself God forbid!

believers  we have a handbook and also a guide the Bible and the Holy Spirit and together they work to help us walk to Glorify our Father, we have a High priest in Jesus for when we slip up

It is a complete divine system made possible by our Loving God who put the whole thing together that we brothers and sisters will be able to spend eternity with him because he loves us so much ?

Glorify him and marvel at his everlasting Love for his family

SHALOM❤️

 

We need to pray daily for this subject is extremely complex. We need wisdom. With one hand we are set free from the law. The other says this is not justification.  It is little wonder we need a Savior.

I say without grace we have no Hope. One said to be a slave of sin is a miserable life. Be careful how you say because for we are all in the same boat.  

Edited December 10, 2021 by Mike Mclees

[Starise]

On 12/8/2021 at 12:54 PM, missmuffet said:

Whatever you do do it to glorify God. We might be able to fool other people but we can't fool God.

Revelation 3:15-19

“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

I have looked at rebuke and chastisement similar to "pruning" as God mentions this as a way we Christians are cleansed. Sometimes it doesn't seem like love when it really is.

When Job was put intentionally into hardship, his friends passed judgement on him accusing him of doing wrong to get his chastening. This is a word of caution to those who might be tempted to judge another based on what they are going through.

There have been times when I have wondered if what I did was a reason for what I was going through, and I have done plenty. Still, I'll take pruning over punishment any day.

Jesus said, " In this world you will have trouble". Some of it comes because we need pruning, some of it we clearly bring upon ourselves and some is just the effects of living here in a sin infested world as a sinner. Everything would work better without it. Everything is affected because of it.

[Alive]

Its always important--vital even--to know who God is. His love for His children is heavens above our own.

The writer is recalling Solomon's words from Proverbs 3:11-12

Heb. 12:5 (NAS20S) and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,   “ MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD,   NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE PUNISHED BY HIM;

⁶ FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,   AND HE PUNISHES EVERY SON WHOM HE ACCEPTS.”

Heb. 12:7 (NAS20S)   It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. ¹¹ For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

[Dennis1209]

On 12/8/2021 at 9:47 AM, Starise said:

@missmuffet It seems you are referring to the things we do that might somehow influence a brother in a negative way. Alchohol consumption sometimes enters into these types of discussions but there are surely many other things one can do that are possible to make a brother stumble.

If God has said it's ok we sometimes need to make a judgement as to how it affects others. Admittedly we sometimes fail in that regard. I hear Paul saying " God has said it's ok but not if it causes a brother to stumble." Do you agree?  There have been some uncomfortable moments in restaurants at times when I wanted a drink and wondered if the people I invited will be offended. I try to gauge these things carefully. It isn't worth a drink for me to loose a good friend or cause him to stumble by getting caught into alcoholism.

Sexual sin was a big deal way back then and it still is today. I have never lived in a woman's body and so I don't know the things they are tempted with. It's a continual struggle for most men, especially younger men. Not that older men are immune either. My thinking part doesn't understand why because it is what it is and it doesn't make sense to me to be drawn to it. The other parts sometime try to override the thinking parts. It's often called thinking with the little head in my circles. The Bible talks about the sins that commonly hang people up. This is only one of many. 

Never have I in any way thought is was by any stretch "right" outside of marriage. Not quite sure how @Reinitin is tying this all together. I maybe need to re read her post on it.

Honoring God is truly a daily struggle probably for everyone. God sees even the most hidden, smallest sins. We can't ever pull anything over on Him. If HE is the one we are honoring with our lives and bodies most of us have at one time or another, been abject failures. Doesn't mean we give up. We keep pushing for the mark of the high calling of Jesus Christ.

Good morning Starise, how you been?

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

As you rightly point out, just because we can, should we? I've used the following examples a number of times: Tobacco pipe cleaners are hard to find anymore. They work great for cleaning out carbon on my AR-15 gas tubes, and other cleanings of my plow shares. Around here, liquor stores are the only place to find them. 

Many taverns have tasty lunch buffets, that are fast and cheap; much better than Cracker Barrel or fast-food joints. At times I think to myself; one cold frosty mug of beer would taste mighty fine right now. 1 Timothy 5:23 Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities. Yes, I know, this is not the context of this verse.

In a single day, the Lord cured me of alcoholism, I detail that in my testimony posted here on Worthy. So, I have no intention of giving in to ever tasting alcohol again. 

Suppose I was seen by a brother or sister in Christ, or someone who knows I'm a Jesus follower, walking out of the examples above? Did I give the "appearance" of sin or evil? Chances are I would not be confronted, and allowed to explain my presence there. It might become fodder for gossip behind my back? Did I give the appearance of evil? I believe so. 

[Starise]

1 hour ago, Alive said:

Its always important--vital even--to know who God is. His love for His children is heavens above our own.

The writer is recalling Solomon's words from Proverbs 3:11-12

Heb. 12:5 (NAS20S) and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,   “ MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD,   NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE PUNISHED BY HIM;

⁶ FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,   AND HE PUNISHES EVERY SON WHOM HE ACCEPTS.”

Heb. 12:7 (NAS20S)   It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? ⁸ But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? ¹⁰ For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. ¹¹ For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

One topic we seldom hear is how the Lord chastens us. It's a good study. Yet I've never had a prayer group where people stood up to share how the Lord chastened them. Apparently it isn't such a popular subject. Much easier to refer to someone else in that context than ourselves. When I look back I can see where God used my mistakes to take me in another direction. At times it was a radical change. One thing is for sure. I know what my thorn in the flesh is.

28 minutes ago, Dennis1209 said:

Good morning Starise, how you been?

Good Morning Dennis, I'm hanging in there. How have you been? Praise the Lord He took the desire for alcohol away from you!

I very seldom go out and buy alcohol. I'll admit a cold beer on a hot day does taste good. Not long ago I built a small drink area in one of my rooms. It has a wine fridge in it and I pretty quickly had it stocked up. I also have coffee and all kinds of teas in it. That whole idea has taken off like a rock. When we have company over no one ever accepts my offers for tea or coffee. I only have a few beers that were given to me. About the only thing I use it for now is my coffee every morning. The wine has scarcely been touched. Occasionally I'll pull out a bottle and take a glass of it, put the rest in the fridge where most of it goes bad. I guess you would say I'm a VERY occasional drinker as I'm learning. I don't feel guilty when I do drink some if I only have a glass. 

I admit to wondering how people would see me if they see me in the wine store. Lots of times people assume we might be drinking more than we really are. Maybe I should wear a disguise?

Something happened not long ago though that caused me to stop serving it forever at family get togethers. My Nephew who was only in his 30's drank himself to death. I never seen most as anything but persons who 'have a drink' I was naive to the idea that I could be putting fuel on the fire. After that happened. No more.

 

[Mama Etna]

6 minutes ago, Starise said:

Something happened not long ago though that caused me to stop serving it forever at family get togethers. My Nephew who was only in his 30's drank himself to death. I never seen most as anything but persons who 'have a drink' I was naive to the idea that I could be putting fuel on the fire. After that happened. No more.

 

I have a brother who is an alcoholic.  We do have beer in the fridge.  We would not serve the beer to him.  We don't usually serve the beer to visitors unless we know they are light drinkers, such as my brother-in-law.

[Alive]

18 minutes ago, Starise said:

One topic we seldom hear is how the Lord chastens us. It's a good study. Yet I've never had a prayer group where people stood up to share how the Lord chastened them. Apparently it isn't such a popular subject. Much easier to refer to someone else in that context than ourselves. When I look back I can see where God used my mistakes to take me in another direction. At times it was a radical change. One thing is for sure. I know what my thorn in the flesh is.

Good Morning Dennis, I'm hanging in there. How have you been? Praise the Lord He took the desire for alcohol away from you!

I very seldom go out and buy alcohol. I'll admit a cold beer on a hot day does taste good. Not long ago I built a small drink area in one of my rooms. It has a wine fridge in it and I pretty quickly had it stocked up. I also have coffee and all kinds of teas in it. That whole idea has taken off like a rock. When we have company over no one ever accepts my offers for tea or coffee. I only have a few beers that were given to me. About the only thing I use it for now is my coffee every morning. The wine has scarcely been touched. Occasionally I'll pull out a bottle and take a glass of it, put the rest in the fridge where most of it goes bad. I guess you would say I'm a VERY occasional drinker as I'm learning. I don't feel guilty when I do drink some if I only have a glass. 

I admit to wondering how people would see me if they see me in the wine store. Lots of times people assume we might be drinking more than we really are. Maybe I should wear a disguise?

Something happened not long ago though that caused me to stop serving it forever at family get togethers. My Nephew who was only in his 30's drank himself to death. I never seen most as anything but persons who 'have a drink' I was naive to the idea that I could be putting fuel on the fire. After that happened. No more.

 

I am an imperfect servant--an unfaithful servant at best. I know this to be true, but I have learned much about the Lord and who he is through his discipline. He reveals Himself in so many ways, but chiefly, in the lives of His own, in how He cares for us in our failings.

I rely on His discipline--I am enlarged In Him by it--even when I have continued to failover the years.

Don't read this to say that I think failure is OK--that sin is OK. What I am communicating is what we all know whether we are transparent about it (chiefly to our own selves)--that we are sinners. We fall short and can even be willfull in it.

There are two or three times in my walk where I was in rebellion--it was in those times when He pulled me from the fire, that I learned of His Love--of His Nature.