“I thank Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight. All things are delivered unto Me of My Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him. Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” ~Jesus (Matthew 11:25-30)
Labour
Words for Christian Living – Being Confident
“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.” 2 Corinthians 5:6-11 (KJV)
There is much talk of “Self-confidence”, and a little of that goes a long way. It is not always good. Too much of it ends in prideful rebellion.
Self-confidence is when you feel good about yourself, your life, your abilities, talents, and “Life style”. The confidence of which Paul the apostle writes is a confidence which comes from knowing God; knowing that He holds you in His hands. Knowing that you are protected from harm; safe under the shelter of His “Wings” as having to do when a hen gathers her chicks for protection from a storm or a fox; or any predator.
The confidence of men; yours and mine; can fail. Our confidence in God can become weak; however when we have been with God, and know His heart we can trust Him through every trial and tribulation we enter and we can endure to the end.
As Christians we are confident that if we die we will be at home with Jesus for all eternity. If we live we live unto the Lord. We know also that there will come a day when; as Christians; we will stand before the “Judgment seat of Christ” and we will give account of all the things we have done here on earth in our bodies. What has been done for the glory of the Lord will stand the judgment; what has been done for ourselves will burn in fire.
Because we know the “Terror of the Lord, we persuade men…” The terror of the Lord is that He hates sin. The sin debt was paid in full by the blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son, on the cross. In His burial He carried away the guilt, condemnation, and power of sin. In His resurrection He proved to all to be whom He said He is – the eternal Son of God. Our Savior. Our Redeemer. Our Lord.
If your refuse Him you will pay for your own sins; whether you believe you have sinned or not. Trust Christ and be saved.
The Love Left
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; ‘These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” Revelation 2:1-7 (KJV)
For further reading and study on these verses go read The Caretaker of the Light.
-T.A.
Working and Eating
Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; neither did we eat any man’s bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12 (KJV)
The apostle considers it to be a disorderly thing for people to eat without having worked for it. Read the above passage. We here in the U. S. of A. and many parts of the world have many people who think everyone is owed a meal; even if they do nothing to contribute to the home, neighborhood, State or Country.
Now, let me try and clear something up. There are many people today unemployed by no fault of their own and are in need of financial assistance, some in need of food assistance, and that is well and good; however, there are many who who have been dependent upon the aid most of their lives, have never learned to work, contribute a thing to society or their own home.
It has been said, “God helps those who help themselves”, and there is much that could be said of that statement, but it is not in the Bible; as some purport. It could be understood to be taught by “If any would not work, neither should he eat”, but that applies only for the work ethic.
Some will say, “Well I can’t find work”. Have you looked? Have you noticed that there are many things you could be doing? If you are getting a government handout; do something in return. If you are getting food from a food bank; do something for that food bank. You might just find yourself feeling worthwhile for a change; or again.
-T.A.
For Christian Life and Living
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:17-32 9KJV)
Put off the “old man” that old nature and put on Christ. When a man, woman, boy or girl comes to faith in Jesus Christ we are changed into the likeness and image of Christ; therefore we are to live like Jesus Christ. Far too often I hear professing Christians who speak corruptly; and that is not only vulgarity in the form of cursing, or what we may think of as bad language; that includes the ridicule of another individual, or showing them as being worthless.
Let us follow the way of Jesus Christ and live.
-T.A.
The Fire and Hammer 