Are you living the life that God planned for you to live?

We are able to live the life that God intended for us to live.  We are offered everything we need to become the person God intended us to be.

This is the seventh of a series of posts discussing qualities we need to develop in our lives that will help us live the life that God intended us to live.

2 Peter 1:5-8 lists seven qualities that will help us become the person God wants us to be.

This post addresses brotherly affection.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, (2 Peter 1:5-7 ESV)

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:8)

If we want to be the person that God wants to be, we need the quality of brotherly affection in our lives.  Other versions of scripture call this quality:

brotherly kindness (KJV)

kindness toward your brothers and sisters in Christ (ERV)

mutual affection (NIV)

kindness for one another (NIRV)

Simply put, we need to have an unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4 ESV)

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10 ESV)

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2 ESV)

Without a genuine concern for other Christians we are not the person God wants us to be.

Prayer:  Father, help me to develop the quality of brotherly affection.

 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32 ESV)

 (Be sure to read future posts that will discuss more qualities that will help us live our lives as God intended.)

 Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

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Are you living the life that God planned for you to live?

We are able to live the life that God intended for us to live.  We are offered everything we need to become the person God intended us to be.

This is the sixth of a series of posts discussing qualities we need to develop in our lives that will help us live the life that God intended us to live.

2 Peter 1:5-8 lists seven qualities that will help us become the person God wants us to be.

This post addresses godliness.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, (2 Peter 1:5-6 ESV)

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:8)

Godliness is a combination of character and conduct. Godliness is an outward demonstration of an inner life. A godly person is a person who desires to live a life that is holy and pleasing to God.

So what kind of people should you be? Your lives should be holy and devoted to God.       (2 Peter 3:11 ERV)

A godly person is living a life that has been transformed by God.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV)

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him … , (2 Peter 1:3 ESV)

A godly person is someone whose life has been transformed by God  and is being transformed by the Word of God.

This letter is from Paul, a slave of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ. I have been sent to proclaim faith to those God has chosen and to teach them to know the truth that shows them how to live godly lives.  (Titus 1:1 NLT)

Some people may contradict our teaching, but these are the wholesome teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. These teachings promote a godly life. (1 Timothy 6:3 NLT)

 Prayer:  God, teach me how to live the godly life that you have planned for me.

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (Titus 2:11-13 ESV)

 (Be sure to read future posts that will discuss more qualities that will help us live our lives as God intended.)

Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

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Are you living the life that God planned for you to live?

We are able to live the life that God intended for us to live.  We are offered everything we need to become the person God intended us to be.

This is the fifth of a series of posts discussing qualities we need to develop in our lives that will help us live the life that God intended us to live.

2 Peter 1:5-8 lists seven qualities that will help us become the person God wants us to be.

This post addresses steadfastness.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,  and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, … (2 Peter 1:5-6 ESV)

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:8)

Different versions of scripture use a variety of words or phrases in the place of the word steadfastness.  By looking at these words and phrases you can gain a better understanding of this character quality that needs to be developed in your life if you want to become the person God wants you to be.

Patience (KJV)

Perseverance (NIV)

Endurance (GNT)

Patient endurance (NLT)

The ability to endure (Phillips)

The ability to hold on (ICB)

Passionate patience (MSG)

The strength to keep going (NIRV)

Do not give up (NLV)

Steadfastness is a quality that needs to be developed in our lives, but it comes at a price.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 ESV)

Steadfastness pays off.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV)

A good application of this quality is found in Hebrews chapter 12.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, …. (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)

Prayer:  God, help me to calmly, quietly, and steadily persevere in spite pain, annoyances, times of trouble, difficulties, or hardships.

 (Be sure to read future posts that will discuss more qualities that will help us live our lives as God intended.)

Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

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Are you living the life that God planned for you to live?

We are able to live the life that God intended for us to live.  We are offered everything we need to become the person God intended us to be.

This is the fourth of a series of posts discussing qualities we need to develop in our lives that will help us live the life that God intended us to live.

2 Peter 1:5-8 lists seven qualities that will help us become the person God wants us to be.

This post addresses self-control.

Self-control is the ability, with God’s help, to control your feelings, emotions, desires, or actions rather than allowing yourself to be controlled by them.

Scripture instructs us to practice self-control.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge,  and knowledge with self-control … (2 Peter 1:5-6 ESV)

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:8)

Self-control comes from God.

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7 ESV)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,  training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,  waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (Titus 2:11-13 ESV)

Without self-control you are vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls. (Proverbs 25:28 ESV)

Scripture tells us that it is better to have self-control than to conquer a city.

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (Proverbs 16:32 ESV)

Spiritual leaders are expected to have self-control. (The qualifications listed in 1 Timothy 3 are requirements for spiritual leaders but are clearly important qualities for anyone who wants to live the life God has planned for them.)

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (1 Timothy 3:2 ESV)

For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, [8] but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. (Titus 1:7-8 ESV)

 If you want to live the life that God has planned for you to live, you need to practice self-control.

Prayer:  God, help me to exercise self-control in all areas of my lives.

 (Be sure to read future posts that will discuss more qualities that will help us live our lives as God intended.)

Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

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Are you living the life that God planned for you to live?

We are able to live the life that God intended for us to live.  We are offered everything we need to become the person God intended us to be.

This is the third of a series of posts discussing qualities we need to develop in our lives that will help us live the life that God intended us to live.

2 Peter 1:5-8 lists seven qualities that will help us become the person God wants us to be.

This post addresses knowledge.

 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, (2 Peter 1:5 ESV)

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:8)

Knowledge comes from God.

For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; (Proverbs 2:6 ESV)

We are told to grow in knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18 ESV)

May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. (2 Peter 1:2 ESV)

Our knowledge should be centered on knowing God and understanding that salvation comes only through Jesus Christ.

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.                 (1 Corinthians 2:2 ESV)

And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3 ESV)

God wants us to know truth.

… God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth… (1 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV)

One of the ways we acquire knowledge is by abiding in the Word.

 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32 ESV)

If we are to live the life that God has planned for us, we need to know what scripture teaches.  We need to be spending time in God’s Word and being attentive to the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:

God, help us grow in our knowledge of you, our knowledge of Jesus Christ, our knowledge of the Holy Spirit, and our knowledge of your Word.

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. (Colossians 1:9-10 ESV)

 (Be sure to read future posts that will discuss more qualities that will help us live our lives as God intended.)

Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

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Are you living the life that God planned for you to live?

We are able to live the life that God intended for us to live.  We are offered everything we need to become the person God intended us to be.

This is the second of a series of posts discussing qualities we need to develop in our lives that will help us live the life that God intended us to live.

Our faith in Jesus Christ is what separates us from non-Christians.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, … (Ephesians 2:8 ESV)

 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ESV)

… because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 ESV)

After becoming a Christian, it is important that we grow and mature in our relationship with Christ.

… at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. (Ephesians 5:8-10 ESV)

2 Peter 1:5-8 lists seven qualities that will help us become the person God wants us to be.

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:8)

The first of these qualities is virtue (moral excellence or goodness).

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, … (2 Peter 1:5 ESV)

… supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, (2 Peter 1:5 NLT)

 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness (2 Peter 1:5 NIV)

A life of virtue (moral excellence or goodness) is a life with high moral standards.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9 ESV)

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.  Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:3-4 ESV)

The life God has planned for us is a life of increasing virtue (goodness or moral excellence).  Without the quality of virtue (goodness or moral excellence) we are not who God wants us to be.

Prayer:

God, help us grow in virtue (goodness or moral excellence).

 (Be sure to read future posts that will discuss more qualities that will help us live our lives as God intended.)

Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

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Are you living the life that God planned for you to live?

We are able to live the life that God intended for us to live.  We are offered everything we need to become the person God intended us to be.

This is the introduction to a series of posts discussing seven qualities we need to develop in our lives that will help us live the life that God intended us to live.

Everything that we, as Christians, need for living a life that is pleasing to God is given to us by God as we grow in our knowledge of Jesus Christ.

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

As Christians we have been delivered from the domain of darkness and are now members of Christ’s kingdom.  We are no longer slaves to sin. Our lives should  reflect the fact that we are members of Christ’s kingdom. 

If we want to live the life that God planned for us to live, we will have a passion for knowing Jesus better.  We will read the Bible. We need to have a strong desire to learn about His “precious and very great promises” that He has passed on to each of us in the scriptures.  We must believe and claim these promises for ourselves.

 (Be sure to read future posts that will discuss seven qualities that will help us live our lives as God intended.)

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:8)

A prayer for you:

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.  He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:9-14 ESV)

Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

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Life can be tough.  We all face challenges.  We all know friends or associates who are dealing with significant problems and need to be encouraged.  They may be dealing with issues in school, peer pressure, academic challenges, trouble at work, unemployment or underemployment, financial struggles, debt, illness, physical or mental challenges, the loss of loved ones, marital issues, broken marriages, rebellious children, or social issues. They may be living in fear due to widespread terrorism, persecution, or the threat of war.  Simply put, people have many  reasons to feel discouraged.

What happens to people who become discouraged and lose hope?

The hearts of people who lose hope can become hardened by Satan’s lies and deceitfulness.

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13 ESV)

But exhort (encourage, build up) one another (brothers v. 12) every day, as long as it is called “today,” (while you still have opportunity) that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13 ESV)

We can encourage others.

The Bible tells us to “encourage one another with these words”.

What are “these words.”

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.  Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV)

The message of hope is Jesus Christ.  Jesus conquered sin and death. Jesus is coming back for those who have accepted Him as their Savior.

 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.  And you know the way to where I am going.” (John 14:1-4 ESV)

Christians are a victorious people, in spite of all of the challenges they face, because of what God has done for us.

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57 ESV)

God gives Christians hope.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5 ESV)

As Christians, we do not need to be controlled by discouragement.  As believers, our hearts do not need to become hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (Satan).  In spite of hardships all around us, we can anticipate victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  We do have a message of hope.

You have a message of hope.  Share this message of hope with someone you know.

Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

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Every time I hear someone say, “Let me be honest with you.” or “I’ll be honest with you.” red flags go up in my mind. It makes me think that their previous comments may not have been honest or truthful.

On several occasions individuals have said to me, “I swear on the Bible I’m telling you the truth.”  That comment also bothers me. Why did they feel compelled to make that comment?  Did they think I had a reason to believe they were lying to me?

Scripture tells us that we should not take an oath when we are communicating with others.

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.  (James 5:12 ESV)

If you need to swear (take an oath) to convince others you are telling the truth, what does that say about your speech?

All of your speech should always be truthful and trustworthy.

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25 ESV)

Your speech should always be gracious.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. (Colossians 4:6 ESV)

Your speech should always be wholesome.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29 ESV)

If your speech is always truthful, gracious, and wholesome there should be no reason to swear (take an oath) to convince others that you are telling the truth.

How can you put “Let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no” into practice?

• Do what you say you are going to do.
• Be where you say you are going to be.
• When you respond to an RSVP telling the host that you will be attending their event, attend the event.
• When you agree to meet someone at a set time, be at the meeting place on time.
• When you agree to “get back” with someone in the next day or two, follow through with that commitment within the next 48 hours.
• If you tell someone that you completed a task, be sure the task is completed.
• When you share information with someone, be sure the information is accurate.
• Mean what you say.

Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. (Proverbs 12:19 ESV)

Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

+8

What is worship?  Worship is an expression of love, praise, admiration, devotion, adoration, or reverence.

Worship might be expressed through words, songs, prayers, the giving of gifts, or other actions.

Unfortunately, worship is frequently misdirected.  Many religions worship false gods.  Celebrities, athletes, pastors, activists, intellects, along with a long list of other categories of people are “worshipped”.

Putting Godly worship into practice does not have to be difficult.   This post will address one of the ways we can engage in Godly worship.

• First, we must be reminded that God alone is to be worshipped.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness. (Psalm 29:2 ESV)

 (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), (Exodus 34:14 ESV)

• Worship God with our lips (our speech).

Through him (Jesus) then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. (Hebrews 13:15 ESV)

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. (Hebrews 13:15 NIV)

• Worship God by telling others how we see God working in the world, how we see God working in our lives, and how we see God working in the lives of other people.

 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! (Psalm 105:1-2 ESV)

… but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. (Psalm 78:4 ESV)

Worship today by telling someone about our awesome God.

 Click here to view previous posts on the Seeking His Kingdom website.

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