Comments
Michael
on 10/12/2021 at 11:20 PM
I am very familiar with those sentiments Russell, that's exactly how i was...until i fully surrendered to the sacrifical love of God through Jesus Christ.
It is only then, i found out that it is the spirit of God, which is a gift, that enables us to be like Christ in the world.
It is this word, which now dwell in us, that the holy spirit then makes alive in us. That empowered word, then enables us to become like Christ in this world.
It is only then, can we become more loving, kind and long suffering...
The world will only knows us by our love. Our love for others and for God. The word is of no use if it remains only in the bible...it must become life and be lived out in this cruel and evil world.
It is only by our love that the world will know we are christians.
I have come to find out that the word Christian covers a multitude of growth stages from baby christian to fully mature christian.... and as you might know, babies are generally selfish...and ill mannered...they eat, poop and vomit without regards...but by love, kindness, and long suffering, they normally grow up into well rounded adults.
p.s. the teen years are sometimes the worst...
Russell Oliver
on 10/12/2021 at 05:26 PM
I have no problem with My Daily Devotion and Prayer. Its the Service part, especial in my household. The other person I am sharing a house with (another supposed Christian), thinks that everything should be done for him and has no respect for anything or anyone on our Street or for me. I do things because its just the way I was brought up and how I have lived my Life through adulthood. And sometimes the way others treat me about my service, dampens my Faith. I stop serving in my Church for the same reason.
Nicholas A.
on 10/12/2021 at 04:06 PM
I love the first sentence. It applies to all aspect in life. From hobbies to household chores. From employment to relationships. If we allow enthusiasm to wain to fondness to indifference our hobbies become dust collectors, our chores become drudgery. Our careers become just jobs or worse, and our relationships dissolve. But it is also a tool we can use with regard to sin. What if each of us applied this principle to a particular sin in our lives. We intentionally allow the enthusiasm of that sin to wain away through those steps so it becomes so uncomfortable and undesirable that we hate it. I pray for each of us that we discover enthusiasm for all that is good and let all that is dark and evil and separates us from God be so undesirable it is cast out. Prayerfully yours and enthusiastic about my day. Have a great, spectacular, Christ filled day, gentlemen.
285/365: Keeping Your Faith Fire Burning
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ~ Romans 12: 11-12
Left untended, enthusiasm cools down to fondness, which then fades into indifference and finally burns out with absence.
Our faith life can go through hot and cold cycles if we don't tend the fire. Have you experienced this lately?
The solution is to continue fueling your fire by adding prayer and service to your study time.
A quick devotion is great to start the fire, but prayer and serving others is what keeps it burning.
GO DEEPER: 2 Timothy 1: 6-8