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Monday, September 18, 2023

Maturity Illustrations

Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Maturity


Albert Einstein
In the course of their conversation at a dinner party, Albert Einstein’s young neighbor asked the white-haired scientist, “What are you actually by profession?”
“I devote myself to the study of physics,” Einstein replied.
The girl looked at him in astonishment. “You mean to say you study physics at your age?” she exclaimed. “I finished mine a year ago.”

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Stepping Stones

The Lord came to me like a dream one day and asked, "why do you sorrow?"
I answered, "Lord my life is so full of pain, I can't face one more tomorrow."
 
The Lord sat down beside me, and gently took my hand.
He said, "Let Me explain to you, and then you'll understand.
 
Each sorrow is a stepping stone you must surmount each day,
And every stepping stone you climb is a sorrow that's passed away.
 
The road of life is a mountainside, with crevices in which to be caught,
But as you struggle on your way, I, the Rock, will lend support.
 
Every stepping stone you climb, makes spirit and heart grow strong.
Exercising character and faith, this road seems painful and long.
 
The way is paved with stepping stones, to uplift your heart and soul,
Though difficult, they aid your way, to a City paved with gold.
 
I know that you are tired, for I too have walked this way,
My sorrows did they multiply, but I cleared many stones away.
 
I left My Rock to lift you up, I left behind My story.
To give you strength to make your climb, to that special place in glory.
 
And never fear, the Rock is here, you'll never climb this mountain alone
Surmount life's sorrows, continue on, for they are but stepping stones.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding.  In all ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."  Proverbs 3:5-6
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Aspiring to Spiritual Greatness / Sermon – Mike Mazzalongo | BibleTalk.tv
When I was a young Christian the preacher who baptized me warned me that I had to be careful of "selfish ambition". This term is only used three times in the N.T. and each time there is a warning that those who are this way, who have this attitude, will suffer in this world and the next.


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1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways.
Philippians 3:15 Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.
Luke 8:14 - And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.
1 Corinthians 2:6 - Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.
1 Corinthians 14:20 - Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.
Ephesians 4:13 - until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
Philippians 3:15 - Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
Colossians 1:28 - Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
Colossians 4:12 - Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.
Hebrews 5:14 - But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Hebrews 6:1 - Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,
Hebrews 12:2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].

You Think About It!
Kevin Rayner


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Wednesday, September 06, 2023

Love Illustrations

Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Love


Agape Love = The Greek word agape (love) seems to have been virtually a Christian invention—a new word for a new thing (apart from about twenty occurrences in the Greek version of the Old Testament, it is almost non-existent before the New Testament). Agape draws its meaning directly from the revelation of God in Christ. It is not a form of natural affection, however, intense, but a supernatural fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). It is a matter of will rather than feeling (for Christians must love even those they dislike—Matt. 5:44-48). It is the basic element in Christlikeness.
Read 1 Corinthians 13 and note what these verses have to say about the primacy (vv. 1-3) and permanence (vv. 8-13) of love; note too the profile of love (vv. 4-7) which they give.
Your Father Loves You by James Packer, Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986, page for March 10


Loving Furiously

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John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:17 (MSG) “But remember the root command: Love one another.
2 John 1:3 (MSG) Let grace, mercy, and peace be with us in truth and love from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, Son of the Father!
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Titus 3:5 "Twas not for deeds that we had done, but by his steadfast love alone, he saved us through a second birth, renewed us by the Spirit's work,
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Galatians 2:20 with Christ I have been crucified, and live no more do I, and Christ doth live in me; and that which I now live in the flesh -- in the faith I live of the Son of God, who did love me and did give himself for me;
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
1 John 4:8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 Corinthians 13

A caring commitment, in which affection and delight are shown to others, which is grounded in the nature of God himself. In his words and actions, and supremely in the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, God demonstrates the nature of love and defines the direction in which human love in all its forms should develop.

love, nature of
Scripture offers an understanding of the source, character and value of love, based on the nature and actions of God.
God is the source of love
His very character is love 1Jn 4:7-8 See also 1Th 3:12; 2Ti 1:7; 1Jn 4:16,19
The love of God is revealed in the cross of Jesus Christ 1Jn 3:16; 4:10 See also Jn 15:13; Eph 5:2,25
Love is part of the Holy Spirit’s fruit Gal 5:22 See also Ro 5:5; 15:30; Col 1:8
The loving-kindness of God referred to in the OT
Jer 31:3 See also Ex 15:13; 34:6; 2Ch 6:42; Ps 6:4; 32:10; 51:1; 107:43; Isa 54:10; 63:7; La 3:22; Hos 2:19
The love of God in the NT
To describe God’s love for humanity Jn 3:16 See also Jn 5:42; 15:10; Ro 8:39; 2Co 13:14; Eph 2:4; Heb 12:6; 1Jn 3:1
To describe love for God Lk 10:27; Jn 14:21; 21:15; Ro 8:28; 1Th 1:3; Jas 1:12; 1Pe 1:8; 1Jn 5:3
To describe brotherly love Jn 13:35; Ro 13:8; 1Co 16:24; 2Co 8:8; Gal 5:13; Eph 4:2; Php 1:9; Col 2:2; Phm 5
To describe love expressed by eating together 2Pe 2:13 fn; Jude 12
To describe love in a negative sense Lk 11:43; Jn 3:19; 12:43; 2Ti 4:10; 2Pe 2:15; 1Jn 2:15
Characteristics of love
1Co 13:4-8 See also Ro 12:9; 1Ti 1:5; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jn 4:18
Love is shown by deeds
1Jn 3:17-18 See also Jn 14:15,23; Ro 5:8; 14:15; Gal 2:20; 1Jn 4:9; 5:2-3; 2Jn 6; 3Jn 5-6
The pre-eminence of love
1Co 13:13 See also Mt 22:37-39 pp Mk 12:29-31; Ro 13:9-10; 1Co 12:31-13:3; Gal 5:6; Eph 3:17-19; Col 3:14; 2Pe 1:7; 1Jn 2:10

Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. Martin Manser.

You Think About It!
Kevin Rayner


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Monday, September 04, 2023

Normal Illustrations

Devotional Thoughts and Teaching Illustrations About Normal
Picture

Normal



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You Think About It!
Kevin Rayner


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