We Do Not Suffer Alone

1 Peter 5:8-11 KJV; The adversary attacks not just you; but, all of your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Through Persecution And Suffering

2 Timothy 3:10-17 KJV; Timothy has learned through St. Paul many things including that the faithful will be persecuted. But, we will get through them with the help of God in Christ Jesus.

The Spirit Of Power

 

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;" (2 Tim 1:7-8 KJV)

Paul exhorts Timothy and ultimately us to be brave in proclaiming the Gospel. Do not be afraid that others might persecute you because of your testimony about the Lord. Do not be afraid or ashamed to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom through Jesus the Christ. 

Paul was not afraid. He suffered much for testifying to what he had seen and heard. He knew that in the end he would die for the Gospel of Jesus. But, none of that mattered. God had given him the spirit of power and love and of a sound mind. In Christ he had the courage and strength to do the will of our Father and follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

"So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Rom 1:15-17)

Be not afraid... Share the love of our God in Christ Jesus with all who need to hear the Good News. And... we all need to hear Good News.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Nothing To Fear; Yet, We Do

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel..." 

                                                                                       (2 Tim 1:7-10 KJV)

What is there to fear? After all; Christ has abolished death and has brought to light life and immortality through his own suffering and death and life.

There is nothing to fear. Yet, the reality is that there are things that do frighten many of us. Death for ourselves is not one of those things. But, the possible deaths of loved ones who do not know and believe in Jesus can cause us to fear for them. The refusal of people that we care about to get to know Jesus can cause us many anxious moments. 

There are a few ways to combat those anxious moments. The first is to turn to God in prayer. The second is to be bold in our testimony of our Lord; to share what God has done for us and continues to do for us through Jesus Christ our Lord and our Saviour.

May God grant you peace of heart and mind and faith to all whom you love and know.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

We Are Perishing; Yet Live

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

                                                                                    (2 Cor 4:16-18 KJV)

This morning, my outward body is reminding me that it is perishing. I have been slowly moving stuff into our new home and helping to prepare the house so that we can soon live in it. I shampooed carpets for two days and then we decided that the carpets; although they looked much better, were just too filled with dirt to remain. My husband has severe COPD. It was becoming apparent just from being in the house that the carpets had to go. Thanks be to God that our granddaughter, Ashley, has been working on pulling the old carpets up as her father has been repairing major things like water pumps and replacing drywall in a bedroom. There is a lot of work to be done there that my husband and I could do a few years ago; but, are no longer physically able. 

But, just from what I have been able to do, my body is aching. I slept for over twelve hours last night! I think that is a record for me! My body is getting a bit worn out; but, Christ who lives and dwells in me continues to strengthen me. He  renews my spirit even as my body wears out. There is always hope.

This world is not all there is. The pain and suffering; the trials and tribulations,  the light or heavy afflictions, that we might endure now in these temporal bodies will pass. Our hope lies in living in the eternal presence of God through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

God's Peace - Pr. J