JOB 12:1-15:35
1 CORINTHIANS 15:29-58
PSALM 39:1-13
PROVERBS 21:30-31
1Corinthians 15:29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is abundant. Anyone who looks into the facts and the evidence that is available even in non-biblical texts must conclude that Jesus really did rise from the dead. One of those pieces of evidence is the churches radical change from hiding in fear after Jesus' death to boldly proclaiming the gospel which includes the resurrection as the most essential part. Without the resurrection the rest of the gospel message is pointless. Even though the followers of Jesus were persecuted, hunted and executed they did not stop. If Jesus had not risen from the dead and appeared to them, when their lives were put into danger they would have stopped. Just as they ran and hid after Jesus' crucifixion. They knew that they could be next to be arrested. Are you bold in the face of persecution? If not have you fully trusted in Jesus? Know that you are a sinner and your sin separates you from God. Trust in Jesus who is God. Trust that He came in human flesh to live the perfect life that you cannot live. He suffered and died the death that you deserve. And He rose from the dead so that you will do so as well. That is the gospel message and if you put your trust in that you can be bold in the face of persecution.
1Corinthians 15:33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”
It should also help you to be conscientious about the company you keep. Because when you put your trust in Jesus the Spirit of God comes to live in you and your conscience will speak to your heart as to those who are "bad company". We need to listen to that conviction and turn from it just as we should all temptations. This first step will lead to other temptations that will take you down the path of corruption. Sin is a slippery slope. When we justify one step (keeping bad company) then it becomes easier to take another step. This bad company gossips, so you find a way to justify participating and now you are a sinful gossip. Remember from previous posts it is gossip no matter how you justify it. If the people you spend your time with are drunkards and liars you will work your way down that path as well. If there was a sin that you struggled with in the past you will begin to find ways to justify falling back into that sin. No matter how much you think you can be strong in it. I am not saying that we should remove ourselves from those who are bad company completely because we can't be in this world and not be around the lost. We also may find ourselves around those who are Christians, but they have given into the temptations and slid down that slippery slope. Those situations need to be addressed as Jesus had instructed. (also in recent posts) However, we should not spend our time with them. They should not be our close friends. They should not be those we date and or marry. We should be closely associated with people who trust in Jesus and live according to the Sprit of God. People who are of good character who will build us up in our faith and we can do the same for them and...
1Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
We are to live for the Lord and those close to us will help us if they are good company or better yet God company. If we are giving ourselves fully to the work of the Lord we will stand firm and listen to the Spirit of God in us. We will make our choices based on the questions, "Would this please my Lord?", |"Will this benefit the Kingdom of God?", and who can forget "What would Jesus do?"
Proverbs 21:30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the Lord.
If we try to do things our way and go down our own path and make our own plans, they will never change what the Lord is going to do or accomplish. He can achieve His plans and purposes without us but if we rely on our own insight and make our own plans, we will not get to be part of that glorious work. We will be separating ourselves from Him and His leadership and even if it looks like things are going well from a worldly perspective, we will feel that separation in our souls.
Proverbs 21:31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the Lord.
Not matter what worldly things we cling to and turn to seeking to heal that separation without Jesus it will be futile. There is Victory in Jesus.
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