Tag Archives: duty

Christian

More or Less

There is a popular doctrine making the rounds in churches and spreading like wildfire: You can’t do anything to make God love you less. Nor can you do anything to make God love you more.

A similar doctrine seen in a recent tweet is: The gift of JESUS has never been about earning and deserving. It has always been about Believing and Receiving.

The Truth:

Of course those going to Heaven will be the deserving. They loved the Lord and kept his Commandments and the Lord loved them more for it because they chose to walk in the light.

They believed and did not despise his sacrifice and reject his gift. Their belief included duty and obedience, repentance and confession, honor and respect. They received the gift of salvation with zeal and remembered Jesus died showing us to not sin.

Can you earn God’s love and favor. Of course you can. King David was a man after God’s own heart. Why, because King David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord.

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Christian

Reciprocated

While flipping through the channels I caught a few minutes of Joyce Meyer saying that God doesn’t say if you obey me I will love you.

I think she missed a few verses.

John 14:23 KJV
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Jesus also said in John 14:15-17 KJV
If ye love me, keep my commandments. [16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

What these verses show us is that God reciprocates love. If we love him and obey him, the Godhead will come and dwell in us.

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Christian

Changes In Attitude

Or Works vs. Grace

Many have taught that salvation is by grace and not works. This is true. Salvation is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV says For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.

But does this belittle works and what exactly are works? Could it cause some people to give up and not even try to please the Lord?

Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV says Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Is duty work? It doesn’t have to be. Attitude matters.

Mark Twain once said “Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do. Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.” Citation

Is it work to not kill? Is it work to not lie, steal, or cheat on your spouse? I think the answer to all of these questions should be no. Character and morals may take years to cultivate, but Jesus told us his yoke was easy and he did not lie. What you once found hard, may become second nature with observance and the Lord’s help.

In the Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom is obligated to paint a fence. He turns the situation around by making it appear to be fun rather than work and soon has a handful of boys doing the work for him and even paying him for the opportunity. Young Tom, or at least Mark Twain, understood attitude and ways to affect it.

Just because God provided grace for salvation, oft times defined as undeserved favor, or because even our righteousnesses may appear as filthy rags before the Lord does not mean good works have no value.

On the contrary they are of much value before the Lord and they are of much value upon whom they are bestowed.

I believe God has in store heavenly rewards for our good works. Revelation 22:12. And if you accomplish many good works in your life and don’t even account it work but rather a pleasure, how much greater any later reward for earned favor.

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Christian, Inspirational

Duty vs. Right

I have gotten tired of churches praying for first responders. Perhaps there is a tinge of jealousy present. Yet, I tend to think prayers and blessings should be reserved as precious. If I don’t know you, I’m not sure I should spend a prayer on you. And I’m definitely not going to bless anyone for a sneeze.

For years I have heard how we are blessed to have the right to assembly and freedom of religion.

This is what I have to say to preachers or churches that have closed their doors during this pandemic:

First responders understand DUTY, why don’t you? So, I reiterate all those years of prayers, God Bless first responders, health workers, police, grocery workers, food workers, supply line workers, and those churches which stayed open!

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Christian, Inspirational

Let Us Go On Unto Perfection

Hebrews 7:19 KJV
For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

I believe we can be perfect on Earth. I believe this because of a better hope, hope of Christ’s strength and God living inside us. I have heard preacher’s say we can never be perfect on Earth. Yet the same say we should strive for it. I agree that we should strive for perfection. Where we differ is that I believe it can be attained.

Don’t sin for 10 seconds or 60, 2 hours, or a day. That time is perfection. Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

If then we perform our whole duty perfectly for a day, strive for another day, and another, one day at a time. Matthew 6:34 KJV Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Not only is Jesus our example, so are Abraham and Job and many others.

James 2:21-22 KJV
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? [22] Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Job 1:1 KJV
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.

Jesus was perfect and with faith in God, so can we men also be found perfect. Luke 6:40 KJV The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.

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Christian, Inspirational

Duty vs. Works

Many preachers today preach grace and unconditional love over works. The problem is that they often equate following God’s commandments with works. What does the Bible say:

Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Luke 17:10 KJV
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

Remember Jesus said in John 14:15 KJV
If ye love me, keep my commandments.

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