Christianity Oasis Forum

[Lionhearted]

Romans 8:28 - we are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labour] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

when i read this scripture i'm tempted to think selfishly ... ya know, only of what is done to me; the bad things that have happened to me that are out of my control. Then i realized, what about my sin against others? So i tried reading it from a different perspective; with a view to God using the things i've done to others ... my sin. is it possible that when God says, "...all things ... He could possibly mean my falls ... MY SIN ... not just the sin done TO me ... but also the sin i do.

when we lift weights we need to drive our muscles to failure in order for them to grow. The growing of the muscle doesn't happen IN the failure ... its afterwards. in the letting the weight fall to the ground, leaving it and then ..... PICKING IT BACK UP TO GO AGAIN!

the falling part

we need to be realistic; we ARE going to sin. we don't sin because we are bad ... we sin because we are sinners ... fighting a battle. to think that we are not going to sin ... is to say that Jesus died for nothing, that we didn't need His help in redemption; and that we are smarter than satan; satan is evil ... however, it doesn't mean he's not very smart and cunning. Hebrews 4:15 says that we have a High Priest Who is able to understand and sympathize with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, ... and Galatians states the battle in the word antagonistic ..... "For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy} Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], ...

question to ponder: do you think its fair that God lets us fall when He could stop us from doing so ..... He could stop us from sinning against each other and hurting one another?

the getting up part

the first few times we ride a bike, without our training wheels, we generally fall off (or if ur like goldieluvs, you don't just fall off but you suffer major head trauma ... but she's a tough nut, because she lived to tell about it) (luvu sis, had to share it! ) ... probably through the first year we take quite a few "falls" as well. no matter how many books we read to our children about the first few rides without the training wheels .. until they actually DO IT, they will never know the feeling of the fall and the ... conquering of it.

just like riding a bike or lifting weights and becoming proficient .... so it is with our spiritual muscles .... growing and becoming proficient over sin areas in our lives we need to have perseverence or to be persistent.

Matthew 10:22 - and you will be hated by all for My name's sake, but he who perseveres and endures to the end will be saved [from spiritual disease and death in the world to come].

persevere/persistent: continuing in a course of action without regard to discouragement, opposition, or previous failure.

there are some very interesting words that are synonyms for persistent - determined, steadfast, tenacious, unshakable; relentless, unremitting. i was playing with the words and i substituted some of the synonyms for persistent ... gives a different type of flavour ... for instance "... but he who is relentless and endures to the end will be saved ..."

also a point of interest could be the contrast words: infirm, spineless; vacillating, wavery, wobbling.

i never want to get in front of the Creator of the whole universe ... and have Him ask me why i was "spineless"

some other scripture regarding perseverence:

Luke 14:27 - whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after (follow) Me cannot be My disciple.

1 Timothy 4:16 - Look well to yourself [to your own personality] and to [your] teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

2 Timothy 2:10 - Therefore I [am ready to] persevere and stand my ground with patience and endure everything for the sake of the elect [God's chosen], so that they too may obtain [the] salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with [the reward of] eternal glory.

James 1:25 - But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).

2 John 1:8 - Look to yourselves (take care) that you may not lose (throw away or destroy) all that we and you have laboured for, but that you may [persevere until you] win and receive back a perfect reward [in full].