Category Archives: Ephesians

Ephesians, Romans

Always and Never

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This is a word someone needs today. I surely did!

Often I could respond on Social Media, particularly Facebook, with a snappy, TRUTHFUL comment but I don’t. Before my fingers can type it out my soul has said: ‘it would not be taken as kind’ and ‘it would not help’; ‘and besides that it would only inflame them’.

Ephesians 4:29  (TLV) 29 Let no harmful word come out of your mouth, but only what is beneficial for building others up according to the need, so that it gives grace to those who hear it. source 

I’m better at this in print that face to face. But I am learning! Well, that sounds like some kind of bragging, doesn’t it? Perhaps. 

Do you sometime hold your tongue at just the right time? Do you sometime hold your fingers from the keys at just the right time too?  Yes?

Then allow yourself some honest evaluation of yourself!
Let yourself be encouraged that you do not always say the wrong thing. That you do not always cut others with your words.  That you don’t always do the wrong thing. If we let ourselves be encouraged by the good decisions we have made, the good words we have spoken, the good actions we have taken – we just might do right more often! 

Here’s a verse admittedly taken out of context but it makes my point I think.

Romans 12:3 (CEB) 3 Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead, be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you. source

It is crucial that we are HONEST with ourselves. It is crucial that we see ourselves as we really are – the bad and the good. Admit our sins and admit our obedience with humble gratitude, knowing that every good thing in us comes from Our Savior. It’s the only way we can be REAL. It’s the only way we can make a good difference in our spheres.

So! Let us be honest about ourselves and others. Those words Always and Never.  Mostly likely only GOD can wear those in truth. 

Chazaq! 

1 John, Ephesians, From the Quietness of the War Room, Gospel of Mark, Isaiah, Praying the Scripture

The 5th

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Mark 11:31 (KJV) 31 And they reasoned with themselves,  . . .  source

And that’s where they went wrong —-

Allow me to give you a little background.  In this chapter, it was Jesus’ final week in Jerusalem prior to His Crucifixion. The people celebrated His triumphant entry into the City; the Scribes and Chief Priests questioned Him, trying to find fault in Him.  When we arrive at verse 31 they have asked Him a question and He has wisely responded with a question. 

Hence, they reasoned among themselves and determined they would be unable to answer His question. They took the 5th we might say.

It is the same for us, as long as we take the 5th refusing to incriminate or shall we say refusing to own our incrimination, we will never know the truth. Nor shall we be enabled to answer GOD’s call when He says:

18 “Come now, let us reason together,” says Adonai. “Though your sins be like scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they will become like wool. Isaiah 1:18 (TLV)  source. 

I John 1: 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (KJV)  source

I John 1: 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (KJV)  source 

The owning of our sin, I suppose, is the hardest of all things in this life to do.  But if we want fellowship with the GOD of CREATION, we will.

 I John 1: 3 What we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so you may have fellowship with us. Indeed, our fellowship is with the Father and His Son, Yeshua the Messiah. (TLV)  source 

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you [us] with inner strength through his Spirit. bracketed mine Ephesians 3:16 (NLT) source

Post Script:  Let us not go wrong as did they reasoning among themselves —- Let us learn to make the Scriptures our plumb line for reasoning a response to the many questions of our day.  

Kathie