"Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
I read John 13-17 this week. It recounts Jesus' last supper with the Disciples.
John 15:4 stuck out to me. Jesus asks that we remain with him - loyal, true, faithful to him as he is those things to us. How can we expect to be blessed and have his help if we do not reciprocate the love he has shown to us?
Letting go, and giving God full control of your life is the hardest thing to do. And even once you reach the level of being able to let go, it's also hard to continue to do it because the temptation/human nature is to want to do things ourselves. You may just forget to seek God.
The only way to live John 15:4 is to put God as #1 in your life. Focus on him every day and truly make Him the most important priority. Do that and everything else falls into place. It's a lot easier said than done, and that's the challenge. The good news is the Holy Spirit is there to help.
Friday, April 18, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
Being Content with God Providing Our Basic Needs
A Right From the Heart message by Bryant Wright...
"If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content." - 1 Timothy 6:8
In spite of the recent financial troubles that have run rampant in so many of our lives, somehow we still find the need to have more "things." In our rush to acquire wealth and possessions, shouldn't we be asking ourselves, "Just how much is enough?" Simply put, God's Word tells us: When you see that God is meeting the basic necessities of your life, be content. Be thankful. The apostle Paul says, "Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need."
In other words, the apostle Paul understood. He could be content with little. He could be content with much! Let's learn to follow his example. Because Christianity is most of all a relationship, when we are in a right relationship with God through Christ, one of the many by-products is contentment.
So, as long as the basic necessities of life are being met, be thankful. Everything over and above is just extra blessings!
"If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content." - 1 Timothy 6:8
In spite of the recent financial troubles that have run rampant in so many of our lives, somehow we still find the need to have more "things." In our rush to acquire wealth and possessions, shouldn't we be asking ourselves, "Just how much is enough?" Simply put, God's Word tells us: When you see that God is meeting the basic necessities of your life, be content. Be thankful. The apostle Paul says, "Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need."
In other words, the apostle Paul understood. He could be content with little. He could be content with much! Let's learn to follow his example. Because Christianity is most of all a relationship, when we are in a right relationship with God through Christ, one of the many by-products is contentment.
So, as long as the basic necessities of life are being met, be thankful. Everything over and above is just extra blessings!
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