The Bible is anything but BORING. I will post a blog later on that topic. However, as I read through the Bible I am reminded over and over that God wrote the manual on life, how could anyone say it is boring. I would say the people who say that, haven’t read it.
Galatians 4 tells the story of God becoming a man and walking the earth at Jesus the Christ, by the way, Christ is not his last name, Christ is a title…
Not only did God walk the earth in human form, He now lives in each of His children in the form of Holy Spirit. How can anyone say this is boring???
Galatians 5:1 NO More Slavery To The Law
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:6
For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
There is so much for us as Christians to see here. Paul is going to great pains to teach the people once again that following the law will not save, it will lead back to slavery. The ONLY thing that COUNTS is FAITH EXPRESSING itself through LOVE! This is not a license to ignore the Law but it is truth that the law does not save.
Galatians 5:7-12 Just for those who thing the Bible is meek and mild, bland, not made up of humans used by God.
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
In our language, Paul said, I wish they would go and CASTRATE themselves… Take that…
Galatians 5:13
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.
For those concerned that Paul is being too easy, do NOT use your freedom to enjoy your WRONG FLESHLY DESIRES!
Galatians 6:7
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
Most people don’t realize this is Scripture…
Galatians 6:9
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
I know how easy it would be to give up. I know how hard it is to live for God and do all the things you feel are right and barely get by. You look at your neighbor who is in no way trying to live in a way pleasing to God and they seem to have it all. Here is good news, the longer I live the better I understand that 70 to 100 years here on this earth is a short time compared to ETERNITY! Take heart, God has promised, keep doing good.
James 1
James is one of the Books in the Bible that are pretty hard to read, not because it is hard to understand but because it is easy to understand and difiicult to live.
James 1:2
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
We need to learn to appreciate patience and that is almost missing in our world today. God is molding and making us who He wants us to be and we just want to rush through the hard stuff.
James 1:19-20
19 My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
Are you living this one?
James 1:22-25
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
This is a warning to those of us who would know the truth and ignore it!
James 1:26
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
Are you living this one?
James 2:1-7
My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” 4 have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
I want to put this one into the context of the church and those who are part of it. Many times there are people in churches that yield a lot of control and this is not good. I see those who make all the decisions and ignore anyone they deem less well to do than they are. Everyone who is part of the church plays a vital role and no one should receive special treatment. Even in the church, sad.
James 2:14-19
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
James is not saying in any way that a person is made right with God by doing good works but James is saying that if one names the name of Christs and in fact possesses Christ, their deeds will show it.
If you’re happy and you know it then your face will surely show it. If you’re a child of God and you know it, then your good deeds will surely show it.
Ronnie
