God is our guide! 9-29-16

Does sin bother you?

A very simple question for you this morning....does sin bother you? It should. Anytime we sin against and holy God it should be very troubling to us. If sin does not bother us it is a sign of very big trouble in one's life!

Look at this quote from JC Ryle: "I cannot see how any man deserves to be called "holy" who willfully allows himself in sins, and is not humbled and ashamed because of them." 

And "I do not understand how a man can be a true believer, unto whom sin is not the greatest burden, sorrow, and trouble!"

Now look at God's Word:

Psalm 38:18 For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin.

Psalm 51:3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.

2 Corinthians 7:9-10 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

Luke 18:13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’

If you can sin and it does not bother you, you relationship with God has a major problem. Go to Him immediately and repent and get right with Him! It is of utmost importance.

Perhaps you are sinning and don't even know it...that is why reading and knowing God's Word is so important.

As a follower of Jesus I know when I sin and it bothers me until I confess it and strive not to repeat it! I pray your sin bothers you too!

Tom

Love deeply 9-28-16

Growing in holiness is to keep a spiritual mind.

As we continue in the sanctification (growing in holiness) process as followers of Jesus, it is of great importance to keep a spiritual mind at all times.

We must go through the daily business of life but at the same time keeping our minds on eternal things as Jesus has told us:

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

To gain these treasures in heaven we must keep our minds focused on the things of God. We must remember we are just a pilgrim passing through here, and to be holy in this world you will be a stranger!

1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

As we keep this spiritual mind in out daily walk there are some things that should be natural to us like....bible study, prayer, assembling with His people which will help us continue to grow in holiness!

Thus we will feel like King David:

Psalm 63:8 My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.

Psalm 119:57 You are my portion, O Lord; I have said that I would keep Your words.

Tom

It is God who commends. 9-27-16

Being holy means being faithful in our duties.

As JC Ryle says about being faithful in doing our duties in life, “He will try, not merely to fill his place as well as others who take no thought for their souls--but even better, because he has higher motives and more help then they.”

Do you do everything in life to the best of your ability? God tells us to through Paul:

Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

Romans 12:11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

As followers of Jesus, we should strive to do everything well as Jesus did. Jesus even asked the question in Matthew 5:47b what more are you doing than others? 

So are you faithful in your duties as a:

husband/wife

student

teacher

employee

boss

neighbor

friend

dad/mom

human being

follower of Jesus

Think on this day as you are growing in holiness, are you being faithful in all your duties?

Tom

Walk by faith! 9-26-16