Wednesday Words of Encouragement
2 Peter 1:3-11 ~
We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.
Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. But if you don’t grow, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten that your past sins are forgiven.
My friends, you must do all you can to show that God has really chosen and selected you. If you keep on doing this, you won’t stumble and fall. Then our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will give you a glorious welcome into his kingdom that will last forever.
When my babies were born I could not imagine what it would be like to have teens or adult children. Yet, as they have grown physically, it's also been wonderful to see their characters and personalities grow and mature. They are young adults with their own thoughts and ideas and it is neat to see how God is shaping them. Now I can't imagine what it was like to have babies in the house! I would never want my children to stay babies. I love seeing them grow and develop.
As believers we too are supposed to grow and mature. In fact, God gives us everything we need to develop from baby Christians into men and women who are mature and ready to be used by him. Yet, there seem to be so many who never grow past the baby stage. While they should be teachers and leaders in the church. as well as leading others to Him, they still need to be bottle fed God's word. In fact, many believe that all that is required is to believe in God and show up to church once in a while.
Nothing is required for God to save us except faith in Him. Yet, something is required from us in order to grow. We have a part to play. We should be constantly striving to grow in goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. We are to work on these things each and every day. We have to exercise our minds, attitudes, words and thoughts to shape ourselves into the men and women that the Lord can use.
As we work on these things, our faith will grow. We will develop and mature spiritually. We will have proof of God's saving grace and His work in our lives. As we continually strive to be like Him, others will see the fruit of our labors. We will have proof that God is has chosen us.
Let's remember to exercise our spiritual lives. Thank the Lord for His free gift of salvation and then work towards becoming mature in Him.
We have everything we need to live a life that pleases God. It was all given to us by God’s own power, when we learned that he had invited us to share in his wonderful goodness. God made great and marvelous promises, so that his nature would become part of us. Then we could escape our evil desires and the corrupt influences of this world.
Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful. But if you don’t grow, you are like someone who is nearsighted or blind, and you have forgotten that your past sins are forgiven.
My friends, you must do all you can to show that God has really chosen and selected you. If you keep on doing this, you won’t stumble and fall. Then our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will give you a glorious welcome into his kingdom that will last forever.
When my babies were born I could not imagine what it would be like to have teens or adult children. Yet, as they have grown physically, it's also been wonderful to see their characters and personalities grow and mature. They are young adults with their own thoughts and ideas and it is neat to see how God is shaping them. Now I can't imagine what it was like to have babies in the house! I would never want my children to stay babies. I love seeing them grow and develop.
As believers we too are supposed to grow and mature. In fact, God gives us everything we need to develop from baby Christians into men and women who are mature and ready to be used by him. Yet, there seem to be so many who never grow past the baby stage. While they should be teachers and leaders in the church. as well as leading others to Him, they still need to be bottle fed God's word. In fact, many believe that all that is required is to believe in God and show up to church once in a while.
Nothing is required for God to save us except faith in Him. Yet, something is required from us in order to grow. We have a part to play. We should be constantly striving to grow in goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. We are to work on these things each and every day. We have to exercise our minds, attitudes, words and thoughts to shape ourselves into the men and women that the Lord can use.
As we work on these things, our faith will grow. We will develop and mature spiritually. We will have proof of God's saving grace and His work in our lives. As we continually strive to be like Him, others will see the fruit of our labors. We will have proof that God is has chosen us.
Let's remember to exercise our spiritual lives. Thank the Lord for His free gift of salvation and then work towards becoming mature in Him.
I do want others(especially my neighbors) to see God's love in me but sometimes it is soon hard. On both sides of me they are so different. My prayer daily is for HELP!
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