Asides

“But exhort [encourage] one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.” (Hebrews 3:13, KJV)

Do not underestimate the power of personal example.

Sin is deceitful (e. g. tricky) because it always promises much and delivers little. Fellow disciples who are immature, inexperienced, or ignorant of God’s word are prime candidates for sin’s deceit. 

Sin blunts the power of God’s spirit within us because it causes our heart to become less receptive (e. g. hardened) to both the Spirit’s guidance, and the Spirit’s gifts. The farther we are from God, the smaller God seems.  The antidote to this kind of atrophy is the disciples’ “exercise” of growing ever closer to our heavenly Father. 

We can be of immeasurable help to others at risk of sin’s deceit and insensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and gifts by using every opportunity — daily — to testify (e. g. give voice) to the active presence and the loving care of our heavenly Father in our personal example of what we do and what we say.  – Luther 

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“’Who are my mother and my brothers?’ he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’” (Mark 3:33-35, NIV)

Some people are brothers and sisters by birth.  Some people are brothers and sisters by law. Jesus says that it is obedience to the will of God that makes us His brothers and sisters. 

The beauty of the family of God is that it is at once inclusive — as in everyone can be a member — but it is only by our choice to be obedient to the will of God that we may become its members.

Whether in the evaluation of success, failure, or the estimation of people; resist the temptation to measure the things of God and the gifts of heaven with the same “yardstick” we use to measure common things.  – Luther

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“Then he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.'” (Mark 2:27, NIV)

We need to challenge the thought that God’s laws and commandments are designed to spoil the joy of living, in the same manner that Jesus challenged the thought that God created humanity to obey a predetermined set of rules that are independent of our benefit.  

All of God’s laws and commandments have two distinct purposes: To provide for us; and to protect us. 

From the day that Adam and Eve were in the garden, humanity has resented limits or boundaries without seeking to appreciate the benefits of said boundaries. It is akin to resenting traffic laws without considering the benefit to order and safety that such laws provide to both motorists and pedestrians. 

As our heavenly Father, God wants only to protect us from unnecessary trouble and grief so that we might have life, and have it in all of its abundance. 

We were not created to keep “the rules.”  The “rules” were created to keep us. Therefore, obey the Lord with faithfulness, joy, and thanksgiving!   – Luther 

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