Have you ever considered WHY you believe something? Something about your Christian walk, your family, work, friends etc.. There are many people that can tell you what they believe but can't tell you why. This should lead us to investigate what's going on in our minds and lives.
For example: People believe that baptism is essential for salvation but do they know why. People don't believe in miracles today but can you tell someone why.
Quite a bit of our believes are so call because Momma said or Daddy did the preacher said so. Do we really want to know, are we basing our eternal life and our walk here on earth on what SOMEONE said?
When I was a young Christian I had a man try to convince me that the Bible said "Black people COULD NOT go to heaven"! I ask him to tell me where and he said look it's in there. Clearly he was basing what he believed on HIS prejudices.
Again a preacher to me one time that it said, "it's better for a man's seed to fall into the belly of a whore than to fall on the ground". This clearly is a justification for fornication.
It really is amazing what you here and we'll take it for common place. I encourage you to know WHY you believe WHAT you believe.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Happiness or Joy
In looking around today it seems that everyone wants and says that God wants them happy. Can we find anywhere God promised us happiness without his Joy? I don't think you'll find one either. God in numerous places talks about his children having JOY.
What is the difference? Our happiness and joy have to do with our will, nature and pleasures, true JOY on the other hand has everything to do with GOD and his nature, pleasures, likes and dislikes. Doesn't the word tell us that the JOY of the LORD is our strength?
I've had both and through the years I'd rather have the JOY of the LORD than happiness any day. Happiness is temporary Joy will last as long as we seek, draw close and desire him. That will bring true Godly happiness.
We have to consider that we are DEAD to ourselves and ALIVE in him. That should bring JOY all over us, up and down, side to side & top to bottom. The challenge from the Holy Spirit in our lives is to allow him control and have such a dependency on him that that alone should bring us JOY & I believe it will.
A friend of mine told me once that JOY is a CHOICE, we choose moment by moment to walk in the JOY of the LORD. Whatever comes our way, whatever tries to distract us, JOY is a choice.
What is the difference? Our happiness and joy have to do with our will, nature and pleasures, true JOY on the other hand has everything to do with GOD and his nature, pleasures, likes and dislikes. Doesn't the word tell us that the JOY of the LORD is our strength?
I've had both and through the years I'd rather have the JOY of the LORD than happiness any day. Happiness is temporary Joy will last as long as we seek, draw close and desire him. That will bring true Godly happiness.
We have to consider that we are DEAD to ourselves and ALIVE in him. That should bring JOY all over us, up and down, side to side & top to bottom. The challenge from the Holy Spirit in our lives is to allow him control and have such a dependency on him that that alone should bring us JOY & I believe it will.
A friend of mine told me once that JOY is a CHOICE, we choose moment by moment to walk in the JOY of the LORD. Whatever comes our way, whatever tries to distract us, JOY is a choice.
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