Click On “My Story -The Tragedy” link in menu above for more on my story in this life.
As I go through life it is my goal to bring praise to his name who created it all!
“…Christ will be exalted in my body…”
Tony Warrick says on a testimony:
“Sometimes your most remarkable testimony is that you went through the fires of life and did not come out smelling like smoke. If you are in a season of struggle, know that someone else down the line will need your testimony to make it through their difficulty.”
In my logo is my life verse: Philippians 1:20. I talk about the verse in “My Story“. I’m thankful God pointed me to the verse when I was teenager. I just read it in the New English Translation (NET) and it hit me again.
My confident hope is that I will in no way be ashamed but that with complete boldness, even now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die. – Philippians 1:20 (NET)
It is my confident hope that Christ be exalted in my life.
Here’s a link to my story in case you’re curious:
A few days ago my morning time in the scriptures was in Colossians chapter 1. I’ve never caught this before now…
Let’s focus on the “Bear Fruit” from verse 10. The part I’ve never paid attention to is “bear fruit” is also said in verse 6. Think that might be important? This turned my attention to the verse that afternoon where I read some study notes on it.
Tony Evans comments on this section of scripture,
“Most of us want to bear good fruit. The problem is that though many Christians hear about God and carry his book around, they’re really not getting to know him, not really experiencing him. To bear fruit, which is contributing to the to the development of Christlike character in the discipleship of others, we need to be lifted up out of the dirt, to set aside our diversions, and to “remain” in Christ (John 15:1-8). You don’t just visit God for two hours on Sunday; you talk to him all the time, threading the discussion through all you activities. While you’re walking or while you’re driving, “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do” (1 Cor 10:31), stay plugged in. You don’t need a microwave experience with God; you need a crockpot experience with him. Simmer in his presence, and impact the lives of others with the impact the Lord has on you.”
That hit me like a ton of bricks…especially the lines:
“The problem is that though many Christians hear about God and carry his book around, they’re really not getting to know him, not really experiencing him.“
AND
“Simmer in his presence, and impact the lives of others with the impact the Lord has on you.”
What really caught my attention is I’m reading the Connecting Scriptures New Testament which highlights quotations and allusions from the Old Testament. On these verses it highlighted Genesis 1:28
And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” -Genesis 1:28
Do you see it, I don’t think I’ve ever thought about the connection here. The commentary from The Connecting Scriptures Bible says, “Paul’s expression, “bearing fruit and growing”, repeats the allusion to “increase and multiply” from Genesis 1:28 in Colossians 1:6. Once more, the apostle evokes God’s commission to Adam, applying it to the church. Believers continue to fulfill this commission “in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.””
It’s in the words that hit me, I need to “Bear Fruit” in everything I do. I get too negative and complain BUT God is at work and I need to share what HE’s done!
BUT GOD!
I Need To Simmer In HIS Presence More Often!!
Oh, blessed assurance
Jesus is mine
Is HE yours?
I believe salvation is as easy as ABC. Admit You’re A Sinner, Believe Jesus Is Lord, Call Upon His Name (Confess).
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9
Last Four Thursday Encouragement Posts:
Michael A. Gilbert 