A Walking Billboard for God...

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.  1 Corinthians, Chapter 3, verses 16-17.

I have heard that some religions have interpreted this passage to say that Christians shouldn’t get their ears pierced or get tattoos but that isn’t what this passage means to me.  This passage is telling me that I’m a Christian 24/7 (24 hours a day/7 days a week) and God dwells in me all the time.
My actions, thoughts, words and deeds make me a walking billboard for God.  A billboard works as an advertisement to draw people toward a particular business.  If the sign were sloppy, had misspellings or poor grammar, the billboard would reflect poorly on the owner of the business.
Now, if I go out and get drunk, take drugs, am rude to others or use God’s Name in vain, it’s like I’ve used bad grammar on my billboard which would reflect poorly on God who dwells in me.  I need to make sure that I’m attempting to live in a manner that makes me a good example of how God works in my life.
Here is a related passage:
*I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.  Galatians, Chapter 2, verse 20.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.

This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 



Reading the Bible Calms Me Down and Comforts Me...

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.  Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Romans, Chapter 15, verses 4-6.

When I get upset about things or worried about family situations, I will often pick up the Bible.  I don’t usually open it to the spot where I left off the last time.  I pick up the Bible with both hands and open it and read whatever is on those pages.  I always say a little prayer first for God to take care of my understanding, comprehension and retention.  Although it doesn’t happen every time, it’s amazing how many times I open the Bible to pages that specifically relate to my particular situation.  I feel God guides me to the particular pages He wants me to read which calm me down and comfort me, just like this passage says.


Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 

Instead of Worrying About What Everyone Else is Doing...

Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.  For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak eateth herbs.  Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.  Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant?  To his own Master he standeth or falleth.  Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.  One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike.  Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.  He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it.  He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.  Romans, Chapter 14, verses 1-6. 
Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.  I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.  But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably.  Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.  Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.  For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.  For meat destroy not the work of God.  All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eateth with offence.  It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.  Hast thou faith?  have it to thyself before God.  Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.  And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.  Romans, Chapter 14, verses 13-23.

These passages have influenced my life in a number of ways.  I had been struggling for years about whether we should be going to church on Saturday or on Sunday, or whether it was okay to eat meat or not.  I admire my aunt and uncle who are very devout Christians who go to church on a different day and eat somewhat differently than I do.
God says that whether we eat meat or not, or go to church on Saturday or Sunday doesn’t determine our Salvation.  Our Salvation is because of our faith in Jesus and living as an example of how He works in our lives.  What matters is that we follow our beliefs.
He also tells us that we aren’t supposed to taunt others because their beliefs are different than ours by putting a stumbling block before them.  An example would be, having friends over for dinner who don’t eat meat for religious reasons and only having meat courses, putting them in an awkward position.
We need to support others and not be judgmental.  I need to keep focusing on God to lead me in the direction that He wants instead of worrying about what everyone else is doing or not doing.  It sounds like these details don’t matter to Him as long as they are done to glorify God.
Here are some related passages:
*But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither if we eat not, are we the worse.  But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to them that are weak.  1 Corinthians, Chapter 8, verses 8-9.
*Notwithstanding thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lustest after, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which He hath given thee: the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the roebuck, and as of the hart.  Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.  Deuteronomy, Chapter 12, verses 15-16.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 


Remember This Before I Give a Sarcastic Reply...

Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law.  For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other Commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law.  Romans, Chapter 13, verses 8-10.

I think God had this passage written for people like me who get caught up in trying to remember too many things and end up forgetting most of it.  This way I don’t have to remember all types of different rules about being a Christian.  In order to lead my life as an example of how God works through me, I just have to remember one rule: Love thy neighbor as thyself.  This covers everything else.
When I contemplate talking rudely to a sales person who has been less than courteous to me, all I have to do is think, “Is this how God would want me to treat someone else?”  I wish I could say I always remember that before I give a sarcastic reply, but it often pops in my mind and I’m less apt to respond hatefully.  I definitely am not perfect but want to work toward being a better example of how God works in my life.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 


Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

That's What You Have to Do to Be Saved!

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation.  For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.  For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.  For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.  Romans, Chapter 10, verses 9-13.

The Bible doesn’t say, “People who do nice things for others,” are saved.  It doesn’t say, “People of only a particular ethnic background,” are saved.  It doesn’t say, “Whoever uses the god-power within them is saved.”  It doesn’t say, “People who believe in God as they understand Him,” are saved.  It doesn’t say, “Whoever thinks positively” or “wills things” is saved.
It does say in verse nine: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Pure and simple, that’s what you have to do to be saved!

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 


Drifting Further and Further From What God Wants...

For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. Romans, Chapter 9, verses 15-16.

There are religious groups that believe that if they “will” things to happen, “visualize things,” “use the god power within them” or use the “power of positive thinking,” everything will turn out the way they want.
Things might turn out the way they want because Satan uses things like this to work a subtle wedge in their relationship with God.  It’s similar to what happens when people read horoscopes where they start out reading it for fun, but after awhile they become more and more dependant on it.  If things turn out well after a person “wills it,” or uses “the god power within them” or “visualizes” things the way they want, they are much more apt to do this again the next time rather than turn to God, asking Him to provide for their every need.  They don’t even realize they are drifting further and further from what God wants, as evidenced through this Bible verse.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 


Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

How Is a Choose Your Own Adventure Book Related to Faith?

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.  Romans, Chapter 8, verses 13-16.

Choose Your Own Adventure books were pretty popular at one time.  You would be reading an adventure story and then were given choices.  If you turned to one set of pages listed, the story would end one way and if you turned to some of the other pages listed, it would end totally different ways.
We can live worldly lives of the flesh and have a less than pleasant ending or we can realize where we have gone off-track and turn our lives around to focus on God and what He wants for us.  When we choose to live through the Spirit, we will have eternal life with Jesus in heaven.  Which ending do you choose????

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 


Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Fortunately for Us, Jesus Has Made the Ultimate Sacrifice...

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.  Romans, Chapter 5, verse 12.

Nope, none of us is better or more apt to be saved than another.  We are all sinners.  Adam was the first man that sinned and we have continued to perpetuate that plight.  Fortunately for us, Jesus has made the ultimate sacrifice so we all have the same opportunity for Salvation through our faith in Him.

Here are some related passages:
*Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation: even so by the righteousness of One the free Gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  Romans, Chapter 5, verse 18.
*For the wages of sin is death; but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Romans, Chapter 6, verse 23.
*For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 
1 Corinthians, Chapter 15, verse 22.


Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.



This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 

Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie

Glorigying God in the Midst of Extreme Tribulation...

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience experience, and experience hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us; For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  Romans, Chapter 5, verses 3-6.
Don’t you just admire people who can thank God in the midst of all types of disaster and tribulation?  I remember when I would get frustrated when things didn’t turn out the way I wanted.  My father would tell me that those experiences gave me character.  I think God is telling us the same thing in this passage, as my father used to tell me.  If I’m cursing God when things go wrong, am I being a good example of how Jesus works in my life?
The best example I have ever seen of people glorifying God in the midst of extreme tribulation, next to Job, goes to my aunt and her family who experienced an unusually tragic loss of loved ones.  Some would have been bitter and hateful, but they were examples of their faith to all those who were touched by this loss.  I’m not sure I would have fared as well, but God in His infinite mercy will bless them with The Peace Which Passes All Understanding to survive the pain of their loss.

Because this is an example of how I’ve applied this Bible passage to my life, it doesn’t necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the passage.


This is a connection I've made from this Bible passage. Please share your connections. 


Please click on comments below to share your suggestions. Thanks! Debbie