Well I guess yu could say that this is like the sequel to my last blog "Selfishness". I said a bit in there about serving others, but I wonder if you wonder "how do I do this?"
Well, here are some bible verses on serving that could help:
Romans 12:11
11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Deuteronomy 13:4
4 It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.
Galations 5:13
13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.
1 Peter 4:10
10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.
Joshua 22:5
But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."
1 Samuel 12:24
24 But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
Mark 10:45
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
We as Christians Have been CALLED to Serve, to use the Gifts he has Given us for his Kingdom. Serving is meant to be from your heart, you are meant to do it from LOVE, not because you have to but for two reasons:
1. Because you Love The Lord your God, and wish to serve and please him &
2. Because the love that God has poured out on you, you want to pour out further onto others.
What better witness is this?
So this is all well and good but How do I serve? well my gifts are to be an exhorter (encourager), as a server next, and thirdly to be an administrator.
I have a wonderful role in the body of Christ, I help to encourage those around me. I serve next, I am the sort to do communion on a sunday, or clean the church, something that others do not see, and then lastly an administrator, I help to organise things, like events for the young ads.
So it is all very well that I have these gifts, but I know that you have your own that are just as special. WE are ALL meant to be a valuable part of the Body of Christ. And if you do not use these gifts for the Lord, and instead ignore what the Lord has given you, then as it says in 2 Peter 1:5-10 you are unproductive as a christian and have forgotten that you were saved.
You see not only is your gift used for the benefit of the Lord, but also for expanding His Kingdom. When the Gifts are used properly, it is a wonderful witness to those who do not know The Lord, and an Awesome encouragement to those already in the church to continue with their gifts as well.
You are not on this earth for nothing! You would not be here if you were worth nothing!
I do not know if you feel unproductive, I dont know if you are serving to please people and not God. If you need to feel that joy that you felt when you were burning for Christ in the beginning of your walk, then look to God for strength! You were, like me, not created to be selfish, but to fulfill your purpose on this earth! I pray that you will feel blessed to have this purpose, that you will feel the want to pour love out on others, then you may Serve the Lord with all your heart and soul.
The work and personal experiences of God's work in a Young Woman's life
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
God is in control
I remember learning about the little Children who Jesus Christ took upon his lap, and what he said:
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
and I remember thinking, ok that is fine, I will stay like a child. Well, as I got older, I wanted to know more, I want to know the ins and outs of how everything works; and though I never doubted that God lives, I became curious to know answers that did not need answering. I am not saying that it is bad to want to know, but sometimes I just need to rmember that no matter what I do or do not understand I just need to remember that God is God, and he is in control.
My life is given into His hands, and no matter what I have to trust him like a little child, with EVERY aspect of my life. Sometimes I try and take over, and it goes all wrong.
I dont know if you ever like to take the reigns back from the Lords control, whether sometimes you find that it is hard to trust that his Will is best, but there is something I always find helps: I look up at the stars at night and think to myself,"if God created such an amazingly beautiful universe, and orchestrated and was in control of so many lives that we hear about in the Bible. How can I go wrong with God in control?"
And that is when the verse that says "be still and know I am God comes to mind."
Do you take the reigns from God? Have you given them to God at all? even if you havent, The Lord weeves your choices into his master tapestry.
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.
and I remember thinking, ok that is fine, I will stay like a child. Well, as I got older, I wanted to know more, I want to know the ins and outs of how everything works; and though I never doubted that God lives, I became curious to know answers that did not need answering. I am not saying that it is bad to want to know, but sometimes I just need to rmember that no matter what I do or do not understand I just need to remember that God is God, and he is in control.
My life is given into His hands, and no matter what I have to trust him like a little child, with EVERY aspect of my life. Sometimes I try and take over, and it goes all wrong.
I dont know if you ever like to take the reigns back from the Lords control, whether sometimes you find that it is hard to trust that his Will is best, but there is something I always find helps: I look up at the stars at night and think to myself,"if God created such an amazingly beautiful universe, and orchestrated and was in control of so many lives that we hear about in the Bible. How can I go wrong with God in control?"
And that is when the verse that says "be still and know I am God comes to mind."
Do you take the reigns from God? Have you given them to God at all? even if you havent, The Lord weeves your choices into his master tapestry.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Selfishness...
Basically I have discovered something in the last year, every person has a little problem with selfishness. Let me just tell you a little story:
A few years ago I was still in school, I was bullied behind the scenes, most people didnt know, I didnt want them to. Girls in my grade started an 'I hate Eisha club', which was very imature, and in my right mind I would have seen it as this, but as I was on the end of my tether, this was the last straw that broke the camels back. I had been putting up with the bullying since I had started school, and I was finally over it all and so I told my Mother about the I hate Eleisha club (which I found out by a friend). She told the head of the section of school I was in who then gave the girls involved an in school suspension. After this happened, I was sent to counselling to work on my resilience, and the girls ostrasized me, they told every one else in my grade to ask me why they had been suspended.
My best friend at the time slowly but surly started to back away from our friendship, and it seemed as though all the other kids in my grade were wary to be seen with me. Every lunch time I spent in the library, doing the same assignment that had been handed in 2 terms earlier, just so I could stay away from everyone. I began having anxiety attacks which feel something similar to heart attacks every morning when I hopped out of the car, I started failing subjects at school, which had never happened before, my lowest grade every had been a C+. The counsellor one day rang my Mother and said for her to pull me out, because if she didnt she feared I would have a breakdown.
The last term of the year, I did all my work at home, and only went in at the end of the year to do my last exams, and that was the last school exams I ever did. I worked 36 hrs per week at Gloria Jeans for a year and a half studying part time. I left the Church I was going to who was full of the same Students I had escaped from, and only recently found the right church for me.
I found myself wallowing over all that had happened to me, it was in the past, but I kept it in the back of my mind all the time, holding it between meeting new people, and expecting everyone to do the same to me that had been done at school. Then one day my Mother said to me something like: "Eish, you need to stop being so self obsessed, all you seem to think about and talk about is what other people have done to hurt you, you hold it between you and ,making more friends. You need to stop focusing on your appearance, and other things about yourself, and start focusing on making others feel comfortable, ask them about their life and things that are happening in theirs, let go of the past, it is done, make a fresh start and you might find yourself feeling more complete."
There was more, but basically I started not only focusing on others, but also on God; and I find myself much happier and completely content with life and God, I am not so needy when it comes to friends, infact if most of them turned away from me I would not be very upset for long, I would just make more.
How this applies to you? well I dont know if you every focus on your appearance to others, or have the same sort of problem as me, but I would like you to know that, the moment you take your eyes off yourself, you will be truly much happier. We can never be perfect, neither can other people, but focus on being God's servant, on showering others with the same love God showers you with. Who cares about how you look besides you? not me? and even if other people do, why do you want to impress them anyway? when you focus on others, people will notice not what you look like on the outside but your heart which will peep out in your appearance.
This may be a bit harsh, and I hope you are ready for it, but seriously who cares? Only God should you be trying to impress, so do it with your heart, and willingness to serve Him. Besides, What has He put you on this earth to do anyway?
A few years ago I was still in school, I was bullied behind the scenes, most people didnt know, I didnt want them to. Girls in my grade started an 'I hate Eisha club', which was very imature, and in my right mind I would have seen it as this, but as I was on the end of my tether, this was the last straw that broke the camels back. I had been putting up with the bullying since I had started school, and I was finally over it all and so I told my Mother about the I hate Eleisha club (which I found out by a friend). She told the head of the section of school I was in who then gave the girls involved an in school suspension. After this happened, I was sent to counselling to work on my resilience, and the girls ostrasized me, they told every one else in my grade to ask me why they had been suspended.
My best friend at the time slowly but surly started to back away from our friendship, and it seemed as though all the other kids in my grade were wary to be seen with me. Every lunch time I spent in the library, doing the same assignment that had been handed in 2 terms earlier, just so I could stay away from everyone. I began having anxiety attacks which feel something similar to heart attacks every morning when I hopped out of the car, I started failing subjects at school, which had never happened before, my lowest grade every had been a C+. The counsellor one day rang my Mother and said for her to pull me out, because if she didnt she feared I would have a breakdown.
The last term of the year, I did all my work at home, and only went in at the end of the year to do my last exams, and that was the last school exams I ever did. I worked 36 hrs per week at Gloria Jeans for a year and a half studying part time. I left the Church I was going to who was full of the same Students I had escaped from, and only recently found the right church for me.
I found myself wallowing over all that had happened to me, it was in the past, but I kept it in the back of my mind all the time, holding it between meeting new people, and expecting everyone to do the same to me that had been done at school. Then one day my Mother said to me something like: "Eish, you need to stop being so self obsessed, all you seem to think about and talk about is what other people have done to hurt you, you hold it between you and ,making more friends. You need to stop focusing on your appearance, and other things about yourself, and start focusing on making others feel comfortable, ask them about their life and things that are happening in theirs, let go of the past, it is done, make a fresh start and you might find yourself feeling more complete."
There was more, but basically I started not only focusing on others, but also on God; and I find myself much happier and completely content with life and God, I am not so needy when it comes to friends, infact if most of them turned away from me I would not be very upset for long, I would just make more.
How this applies to you? well I dont know if you every focus on your appearance to others, or have the same sort of problem as me, but I would like you to know that, the moment you take your eyes off yourself, you will be truly much happier. We can never be perfect, neither can other people, but focus on being God's servant, on showering others with the same love God showers you with. Who cares about how you look besides you? not me? and even if other people do, why do you want to impress them anyway? when you focus on others, people will notice not what you look like on the outside but your heart which will peep out in your appearance.
This may be a bit harsh, and I hope you are ready for it, but seriously who cares? Only God should you be trying to impress, so do it with your heart, and willingness to serve Him. Besides, What has He put you on this earth to do anyway?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Faith Fails...
You are probably ready with your hands in fists to tell me what you think of this title... But if you read this you will understand exactly what I am going on about.
Faith fails, lets read some verses on this:
PSALM 42:5
Why are you cast down, Oh my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
and
Hebrew 11
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.
3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he[a]considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring[b] will be reckoned."[c] 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
23By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea[d] as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[e]
32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned[f]; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Sometimes it is very difficult to have faith that the Lord is helping us, hearing our prayers. And honestly I know how hard it is to have enough faith to acheive anything.
You want me to tell you why I called this faith fails? well here it is: because we can never fully trust God, it seems to run agaist our nature to have a true unfailing faith in the Father. It is OUR faith, OUR beleif. I dont know if you have noticed but humans seem to have a failing in the faith side of things because anything that involves us to do or believe we fail at.
I dont think that anyone reading this has ever not questioned God, and our faith and trust in him.
So this title was really to catch your attention, but I pray that from now on, you will be able to see what God has done for the Irealites in their times of need, He has written his word to show his power and majesty! Can you put your Faith in him?
Faith fails, lets read some verses on this:
PSALM 42:5
Why are you cast down, Oh my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
and
Hebrew 11
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2This is what the ancients were commended for.
3By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. 4By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
5By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
11By faith Abraham, even though he was past age—and Sarah herself was barren—was enabled to become a father because he[a]considered him faithful who had made the promise. 12And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
17By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, 18even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring[b] will be reckoned."[c] 19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
22By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.
23By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. 28By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.
29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea[d] as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.
31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.[e]
32And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned[f]; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. 40God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Sometimes it is very difficult to have faith that the Lord is helping us, hearing our prayers. And honestly I know how hard it is to have enough faith to acheive anything.
You want me to tell you why I called this faith fails? well here it is: because we can never fully trust God, it seems to run agaist our nature to have a true unfailing faith in the Father. It is OUR faith, OUR beleif. I dont know if you have noticed but humans seem to have a failing in the faith side of things because anything that involves us to do or believe we fail at.
I dont think that anyone reading this has ever not questioned God, and our faith and trust in him.
So this title was really to catch your attention, but I pray that from now on, you will be able to see what God has done for the Irealites in their times of need, He has written his word to show his power and majesty! Can you put your Faith in him?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Stir it up!
Hello!
Recently I attended a camp for young adults called stir. Stir is a 3 day camp that has a mission to help people who go, grow in The Lord so much that they actually make a difference to other peoples lives.
It was a massive conference of CHristian young women and men (great place to hook up) where everyone was united in one thing and that is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. You are probably wanting me to get to the point at the moment so I will. I wrote the earlier part of this so that you know that what I am about to write is not from myself but from someone with extensive biblical knowledge.
2 Peter 1:5-11 says:
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I dont know about you but i find this pretty clear, maybe its because I was taught at Stir or maybe because it is elementary... you decide. I highlighted (figuratively) this in my bible and wrote that this is what is meant to happen in your Christian walk. If it doesnt you are an ineffective and unproductive person to the kingdom of heaven.
I always thought alot about my Christian walk and what happens after the initial stages of belief. I believe it is a good question to ask. If you are a Christian already and have been for a while, this is what I beleive your life is meant to reflect: someone who grows the values above in increasing measure so they are productive and effective as Christians. If you have just become a Christian and you wonder about these things yourself, at least you can see here that this is meant to happen in your life... of course to learn this you cannot just look at the verses I have here, you actually need to read the Bible to gain the Knowledge it talks about here...
I have never been taught how to read a Bible, infact up until just recently I put it off. I would prefer to read some non-fiction books that tell me all I need to know in them. I beleive that this is ok.. but not to sustain your whole walk with God. When you read a book that has an opinion on some things, you need to get out the Bible and read the verses around it for yourself or else you could fall into the trap of being a follower of a man that really has no clue what he is talking about and believing what he says and have him take you into a cult or something similar.
So I will tell you how I do it, I get out my Bibles a King James version with all the thees and thys and all that because it is the closest Bible to the original writings, and also a NIV or you might have the new king james or the message, whatever it doesnt really matter.... then I read a chapter of a book, like I started with phillipians (the book of joy) read a chapter and wrote down 2 verses that stuck out to me. Then I wrote what I believe it meant and compared the two versions. The next time I got out the Bible to study I read the same chapter and usually there were other verses that stuck out to me.
Unfortunately there is not cheat sheet in how to read the Bible, and at times I just plainly dont feel like reading the Bible. But when I do, I find my behaviour is better in everyday life, I feel happier. And in general everything just seems to go soooooo much better.
I hope this helps those who needed an idea about these things, I know it was a bit bitsa but hopefully I am praying it helps.
As Paul says in the beginning of most of his letters: "Grace be unto you and peace from God the Father."
Love your sister in Christ
Recently I attended a camp for young adults called stir. Stir is a 3 day camp that has a mission to help people who go, grow in The Lord so much that they actually make a difference to other peoples lives.
It was a massive conference of CHristian young women and men (great place to hook up) where everyone was united in one thing and that is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. You are probably wanting me to get to the point at the moment so I will. I wrote the earlier part of this so that you know that what I am about to write is not from myself but from someone with extensive biblical knowledge.
2 Peter 1:5-11 says:
5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.
10Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I dont know about you but i find this pretty clear, maybe its because I was taught at Stir or maybe because it is elementary... you decide. I highlighted (figuratively) this in my bible and wrote that this is what is meant to happen in your Christian walk. If it doesnt you are an ineffective and unproductive person to the kingdom of heaven.
I always thought alot about my Christian walk and what happens after the initial stages of belief. I believe it is a good question to ask. If you are a Christian already and have been for a while, this is what I beleive your life is meant to reflect: someone who grows the values above in increasing measure so they are productive and effective as Christians. If you have just become a Christian and you wonder about these things yourself, at least you can see here that this is meant to happen in your life... of course to learn this you cannot just look at the verses I have here, you actually need to read the Bible to gain the Knowledge it talks about here...
I have never been taught how to read a Bible, infact up until just recently I put it off. I would prefer to read some non-fiction books that tell me all I need to know in them. I beleive that this is ok.. but not to sustain your whole walk with God. When you read a book that has an opinion on some things, you need to get out the Bible and read the verses around it for yourself or else you could fall into the trap of being a follower of a man that really has no clue what he is talking about and believing what he says and have him take you into a cult or something similar.
So I will tell you how I do it, I get out my Bibles a King James version with all the thees and thys and all that because it is the closest Bible to the original writings, and also a NIV or you might have the new king james or the message, whatever it doesnt really matter.... then I read a chapter of a book, like I started with phillipians (the book of joy) read a chapter and wrote down 2 verses that stuck out to me. Then I wrote what I believe it meant and compared the two versions. The next time I got out the Bible to study I read the same chapter and usually there were other verses that stuck out to me.
Unfortunately there is not cheat sheet in how to read the Bible, and at times I just plainly dont feel like reading the Bible. But when I do, I find my behaviour is better in everyday life, I feel happier. And in general everything just seems to go soooooo much better.
I hope this helps those who needed an idea about these things, I know it was a bit bitsa but hopefully I am praying it helps.
As Paul says in the beginning of most of his letters: "Grace be unto you and peace from God the Father."
Love your sister in Christ
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