Giving NO offence in ANY THING...

" But in ALL things approving ourselves as the ministers of God..." 2 Corinthians 6:4

This morning I happened to catch a devotional being read while preparing breakfast. Normally my thoughts "run to and fro" while getting things ready for the table... but the radio is still in the background  with music or scripture being read. Sometimes I don't always hear everything amidst the noise of preparing breakfast. However, there's always a "nugget "of treasure that keeps me encouraged...

A verse was shared this morning ... and with the verse, the thought that we possess ALL things. How wonderful the thought! I quickly made a mental jot to look up the verse after breakfast and meditate on the treasure given me. 

" ... as having nothing, yet possessing All things." 

2 Corinthians 6:10

I started reading at the beginning of the chapter to understand the verse a bit  better... and how blessed and encouraged I was! 

Too often I forget... how RICH I am... and that I posses ALL things... IN Christ! 

"... and you are complete in Him." 

Colossians 2:10 

Have you ever felt yourself lacking? I know most of us often associate richness with material things, but being rich isn't about the things of this world... 

Have you ever felt yourself.... 

• without the "means" to get through the day?
• at "loss" when it comes to... going the extra mile, showing kindness, applying grace to someone who's wronged you?
• "poor" and "hopeless" and "without knowledge" when it comes to applying Christ-like attributes ... be it to others, or in situations where surroundings test our "worth"?  

I was overwhelmed with the encouragement I received from the verses I read. Oh, what wealth of knowledge has been given to us... indeed we posses ALL things and we lack NO good thing!

I thought to write down the key points from 2 Corinthinas 6:1-10... as a reminder of what God's power and His Holy Spirit can do in our lives... when we are faced with various trials.

As workers together with the LORD... we are not to receive the grace of God in vain: 

• Giving NO offence in ANY THING... that the ministry be not blamed.

 As ministers of God...  approving ourselves in ALL things:

• in much patience
• in afflictions
• in necessities
• in distresses
• in stripes
• in imprisonments
• in tumults
• in labours
• in watchings
• in fastings

Working and ministering... 

• by pureness
• by knowledge
• by long-suffering
• by kindness
• by the HOLY GHOST
• by love unfeigned (genuine, without hypocrisy)
• by the WORD OF TRUTH
• by the POWER OF GOD
• by the armour of righteousness, on the right hand and on the left 

In  ALL situations...

• by honour and dishonour
• by evil report, and bad report
• as deceivers, and yet true
• as unknown, and yet well known
• as dying, and behold we live
• as chastened, and not killed
• as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing
• as poor, yet making many rich

AS HAVING NOTHING, YET POSSESSING ALL THINGS.

Lord, may your power and Holy Spirit work in us to be strengthened with all might... working in us all... a patience and long-suffering... that is accomplished with joyfulness.

May you be encouraged today to give no offence in any thing... and be reminded that in Christ we possess ALL things.  We are more than conquerors through Him... who loved us to the the end.

~Ellie

Only TAKE HEED to thyself and keep thy SOUL diligently...

" For what nation is there so great, who hath GOD so nigh unto them, as the LORD our GOD is in ALL THINGS that we call upon him for? "

 Deuteronomy 4:7

Have you ever looked at a spider and its web? Have you seen the spider at work... diligently working the web ever so meticulously? Have you seen how the spider reacts when something foreign invades his "home"?

Recently while sitting near a large window I noticed the spider at work. A leaf fell in his web. Within seconds the spider appears to remove all form of "foreign invasion". Patiently he begins the removal of the foreign object that has attached itself in his web. The object is much bigger than he... 

But it's obvious to anyone watching the spider at work that it is of utmost importance for the spider to have the object removed. 

He diligently and patiently works. His web needs to be free of any danger to his "home". 

And what I noticed most is that within seconds the spider came to remove the foreign object... the leaf. 

I thought of our own lives. Our hearts... 

Are we like the spider that quickly removes all "foreign dangers" that can mar our hearts? Do we diligently keep our hearts free from any form of danger that can infiltrate our souls and make us useless for the kingdom of GOD... and hinders us to grow?

Do we quickly put aside all form of  "dangers"... before they can debilitate us? 

Dangers can come in all forms... bitterness, jealousy, slander, pride, malice, hypocrisy.  

" Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, 

And hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings..."

1 Peter 2:1

But it can also be what we put in our hearts... through what we see/read/hear. Dangers from wrong books, movies, music.etc...

"Be sober, be vigilant;

 Because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, 

Walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 

1 Peter 5:8

Our God has instructed us, through HIS righteous WORD... to guard our hearts. Diligently.

" Keep thy heart with all diligence, 

For out of it are the issues of life."

Proverbs 4:23

We are always to be on the alert.  And we have a GREAT GOD who is near us when we call. 

What an awesome privilege to have the GOD of heaven act on our behalf.... even when dangers come our way.

" When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, 

Even in the latter days, 

If thou turn to the LORD thy GOD, 

And shalt be obedient unto HIS voice; 

For the LORD thy GOD is a MERCIFUL God; 

HE will not forsake thee... " 

Deuteronomy 4:30,31

And so I was grateful for the little glimpse in the world of the spider... a different outlook than I would otherwise see.  

Marvelous are God's reminders...

May you be reminded today to guard your heart from evil.... and may you have victory through HIS power that can set us free.

~Ellie

Put on the WHOLE armour of GOD...

"When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace." Luke 11:21

I woke up this morning with a simple thought... Put on the whole armour of God. 

Now, I don't exactly know how the thought came about, but I know it was the Holy Spirit reminding me to keep watch. And I was truly thankful to the LORD for His kind reminder and faithfulness to me. He is so gracious! 

It's interesting, but sometimes I wake up excited... ready to face the day. The sun may shine brightly and we may think that "all is well".  That's when we can easily get lost in the "tasks" of the day and let go of the guard. Sometimes pride creeps in... making us think "we can handle it all".

Such was the feeling I had this morning. It was beautiful and sunny outside... and I had all sorts of plans for the day. But the Lord gently reminded me... Put on the whole armour of God. 

The armour of God is always needed.... for it helps us to stand against the wiles of the devil. Without the armour we are open to all sorts of attacks that cause us to stumble and fall.  

" Submit yourselves to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." 

James 4:7

How gracious the LORD was this morning. It suddenly reminded me of the Lord Jesus' tenderness in His prayer to the Father, 

" I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil one."

John 17:15

We have been thoroughly equipped. God's armour is strong enough for whatever may come our way.  

     

Put On The Whole Armour Of God

Put on the whole armour of GOD,

And go out in the power of HIS might.

To ward off the wiles of the devil,

Make sure the belt of truth is buckled on tight.

*

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

But against powers and spiritual wickedness in places on high.

So wear your breastplate of righteousness,

To quench all the fiery darts that fly.

*

Be strong and put on your armour,

Make sure your feet are shod with the gospel of peace.

Above all don't forget to pick up your shield,

For by faith you shall thereby increase.

*

Take courage for salvation is your helmet.

So keep the WORD of GOD as your constant guide,

And as you fight against the darkness of this world,

Allow not the sharpened sword to fall from your side.

*

With all perseverance be watchful and pray.

As you run the race, make sure your guard is not down

For with God's armour your battle is won, 

And what joy in the end when you give Him your crown.

~Ellie 6/16/14~

May you be reminded to put on the whole armour of GOD... whereby you may stand.

~Ellie