Righteousness, Self-Control, and the Judgment to Come
My message yesterday at NHBC was centered on this passage of Scripture, and it is my Bible reading for today, as I read through the Bible. Isn't that how the Lord works? He often causes us to encounter what He wants us to learn from His Word in various ways until we receive it well and act upon it. I believe God is telling all of us to take Paul's witness to the Roman Governor Felix to heart. (Acts 24:25) Paul was a master at sharing the gospel in a relevant way.
People who are unrighteous have a sense that something is wrong in their lives, but they need someone to show them that trusting Jesus as Lord and the One who died for them is the only way to be righteous. Most people do not know this without our help. We need to be ready to share the Good News every time we get a chance.
People who lack self-control are very unhappy, too. None of us can have real self-control without knowing Jesus, because it is the fruit of the Spirit in the life of a believer. Those without Christ are really slaves to sin.(Romans 6) Therefore, we need to explain self-control, so people can live as God designed.
Everyone needs to be told that there is a judgment day coming in which we will give an account of our lives. For those who don't know Christ it will be a terrible time of realizing how they failed to listen to the Lord draw them to Himself, so they will spend eternity in suffering, separated from God. That is a powerful incentive to listen to God and get right with Him for eternity.
Will we be like Paul and speak of these things in love to help those around us. If not, we will miss God's blessing, as well as those with whom we should have shared.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 26-28.
People who are unrighteous have a sense that something is wrong in their lives, but they need someone to show them that trusting Jesus as Lord and the One who died for them is the only way to be righteous. Most people do not know this without our help. We need to be ready to share the Good News every time we get a chance.
People who lack self-control are very unhappy, too. None of us can have real self-control without knowing Jesus, because it is the fruit of the Spirit in the life of a believer. Those without Christ are really slaves to sin.(Romans 6) Therefore, we need to explain self-control, so people can live as God designed.
Everyone needs to be told that there is a judgment day coming in which we will give an account of our lives. For those who don't know Christ it will be a terrible time of realizing how they failed to listen to the Lord draw them to Himself, so they will spend eternity in suffering, separated from God. That is a powerful incentive to listen to God and get right with Him for eternity.
Will we be like Paul and speak of these things in love to help those around us. If not, we will miss God's blessing, as well as those with whom we should have shared.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Acts 26-28.