Asides

January 9
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Uncategorized Aside

“If someone claims, ‘I know God,’ but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.” (1 John 2:4, NLT)

Here is the essence of knowing God: Obedience to His commandments.

It is not doing great things in God’s name that shows we know Him.  It is not acquiring volumes of knowledge about God that shows we know Him. It is not the depth of our sacrifice that shows we know God. To know God is to obey His commandments.

God’s commandments are to love God with all our being; and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  (Please see Mark 12:30-31.)

To be sure, to do great things in God’s name; learning all we can about Him; and sacrificing ourselves for His name’s sake are honorable ambitions.  However, unless these and other works begin at God’s initiative, our labor and our accomplishments are in vain.

Let complete obedience to our Creator and our God be our daily goal. It is only through obedience that we become like Him.  – Luther

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January 8
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Uncategorized Aside

“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25, NLT)

This is a win-win for all of us: Prosper through our own generosity, and assure our own refreshment by helping others! 

Now, all that is left for us to do is to get out there and do it — and be it!  Yea!!!  – Luther 

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January 7
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“The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. . .’  So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him.” (Genesis 12: 1, 4a, NIV)

The Lord said, “Go. . . and I will show you. . .”  The problem with us often is that we counter God with, “Show me, and I will go.”

This is why Abram (his name was later changed to Abraham) is regarded to this day as the “father of the faithful.”  It is also why we miss-out on the adventure of walking with our heavenly Father.

When God calls, answer.  Where God directs, follow.  What God commands, obey.  All who aspire to be as Abram was must make a conscious decision to “walk by faith, not by sight.”  – Luther

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