Tag: human beings

Happy is the Man Whom God Corrects

Happy is the Man Whom God Corrects

It’s unusual for us human beings to appreciate being corrected or when someone points out where we need to improve ourselves.  But God says that His correction is a sign of His love for us.  What a beautiful idea that is!

Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you.  (Deut 8:5 NIV)

How happy is the man whom God corrects!  Therefore do not despise the discipline of the Almighty . . .  (Job 5:17 MEV)

My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord or loathe His rebuke, 12 for whom the Lord loves He disciplines, just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.  (Pro 3:11-12 NASB)

Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.  (Pro 13:24 ESV)

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.  (Rev 3:19 NKJV)

As these Scripture passages attest, correction from the Lord—as from a loving parent—is an affirmation of His love and care for us. 

In the natural realm, parents train and discipline their children in order to raise up polite, likeable, and confident human beings who will be loved and appreciated wherever they go.  We do this with our children because we love them, and want to see them grow into happy, well-adjusted adults who are an asset to their communities, churches, and families. 

The Lord disciplines us for our own good.  He is performing His work in us to transform us into the image of His own Son.  (2 Cor 3:18; Eph 4:22-24)  Praise God!

Life is About Much More Than Possessions

Life is About Much More Than Possessions

Life on earth is comprised of human beings, needs, wants/desires, relationships, jobs/callings, accomplishments, and many more categories.  It would be a challenge to try to list everything that is included in day to day human life because it can be very broad and very detailed.  It would cover too much to be able to list, in reality.

One trait that is negative that is sometimes a part of human life is greed.  Thankfully, it isn’t everywhere or in all people, but it is certainly there and it is definitely negative.

The Lord has been teaching humanity various lessons since the beginning of creation.  Here are some samples from His Word.

But He said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one is affluent does his life consist of his possessions.”  (Lk 12:15 NASB)  This is a warning against greed and an inordinate affection for possessions.

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  (Col 3:5 NKJV)  Covetousness (another word for greed) is named among a list of sins in the Bible.

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”  (Heb 13:5 NKJV)  This passage in the Bible instructs us to be free of greed, and to be content with what we have. 

Rather, we are told to remember what is TRULY important:  that Jesus has promised us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. 

What a beautiful and meaningful promise from our Savior!

Teach Us to Number Our Days

Teach Us to Number Our Days

Some Bible verses discuss the lifespan of human beings.  Why is this important to followers and servants of Jesus Christ?  That’s what we’re considering today.

Our time on earth is brief; the number of our days is already decided by you.  (Job 14:15 CEV)

So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  (Ps 90:12)

I am gone like a shadow when it lengthens; I am shaken off like a locust.  (Ps 109:23)

Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.  (Ps 144:4)

One thing that we have to remember is that our time on earth is limited, and so it’s good to learn to value each day enormously.  Once we accept the brevity of life, we will be more inclined to seek God’s wisdom, leading and guidance for living rich, meaningful, and eternally significant lives that will bring glory to God.

We don’t want to take the gift of life for granted.  We don’t want to waste our days on foolish, selfish pursuits that have no real value.  Those would be pursuits that eventually, at their conclusion, can bless no one else but ourselves and that bring pleasure to and minister to no one other than ourselves. Some such ventures might even be sinful or evil.

Once we have accepted Jesus Christ as our savior and Lord, all that we need for daily sustenance will be given to us by the Lord according to Matthew 6:33. 

The Lord wants His people to learn, to grow, and to seek His wisdom. 

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.  Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.  For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.  Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.  (Pro 2:1-11 NIV) As we learn to number our days, we regard each day as a precious gift as well as an opportunity to store up treasure in heaven that will please God.  Glory!

Servants of Christ

Servants of Christ

When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, a number of things occurred in our lives.  Here are just three things that took place:

  • We became children of the Living God.  (Rom 8:16; 1 Joh 3:1-2)
  • We became bondservants of Jesus Christ.  (Eph 6:6; 1 Pet 2:15-16)
  • We passed from darkness to light.  (Col 1:13)

The Scriptures show a number of apostles and disciples who identify themselves as “bondservants” of Christ.  Every believer should identify with this claim.

Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God . . .   (Rom 1:11 NKJV) 

For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ.  (1 Cor 7:22 ESV)

. . . not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart . . .  (Eph 6:6 ESV)

A bondservant is a person who willingly becomes a slave to another person.  The Mosaic Law allowed an indentured servant to become a bondservant voluntarily: “If the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life” (Exodus 21:5-6).  Source:  GotQuestions.org. 

You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men.  (1 Cor 7:23 ESV)  The Bible warns us NOT to become bondservants of human beings.

But we do need to settle it in our hearts that we are servants of Jesus Christ and of the Kingdom of God.  We need to be submitted to God’s will and plan for each one of our lives.  It’s important to remember that the Lord can see the end from the beginning.  He knows every possible outcome of our own, human decisions; but if we allow Him to direct our paths, we will fulfill His will for each and every believer.

Set aside some time to spend in meditation and prayer about this important concept.  Determine what yielding to the Holy Spirit will mean for your life.  God bless you.

There is None Righteous

There is None Righteous

The Bible reminds us that no one is righteous, except God. 

As it is written:  “There is none righteous, no, not one . . .”  (Rom 3:10)

. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . . .  (Rom 3:23)

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?”  (Jer 17:9)

“What is man, that he could be pure?  And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?”  (Job 15:14)

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.  (1 Joh 1:8-10, emphasis added)

We have abundant evidence, not only in the Scriptures but through the evidence of our own lives, that human beings are not intrinsically righteous.  But as 1 John 1:9 (above) says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  Our solution to having sinned is to confess our sins to God and to accept and receive His cleansing and His forgiveness.

In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.  (Jer 33:16)

But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—  (1 Cor 1:30)

For those of us who have accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord, He has become for us wisdom from God.  He is also our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.  After we accepted Jesus as our Savior, the Word reminds us that we were sealed with the Holy Spirit!  (Eph 1:13) Glory to God most High!