Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

8.4- Gaslighting by religious bigots. How many people have religious bigots made to feel guilty about their lives in their sermons while doing the same things themselves?   How many religious leaders have they supervised and shamed because they weren’t doing their job right while they were doing deep harm themselves.  God only knows.   But of course the law didn’t apply to these hypocrites. I am aware of a family that has three generations of people who have been devastated by toxic religion.   Their hearts have been hardened against true Jesus by false presentations of Jesus.  I believe I know why Jesus hated this behavior so much. Mark 3. 22  The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by [ k ] Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.” 23  And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24  If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

8.3- If you want to be fruitful then meeting pressing needs. Titus 3. 12  When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13  Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them. 14  Our people must also learn to engage in good [ b ] deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. 15  All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.

8.2- It is another election season and only 100 days until America will pick all of the national representatives and 33 or so Senators. Christians are called to be a salt and a light.  Our ultimate citizenship is in heaven but all us of also live in nations. John the Baptist was a man of God and was willing to tell the king that he was doing something unlawful. I believe that if Christians have a salt and light influence in our community we must stand up and make clear the kind of leaders God teaches would be good leaders. What kind of leaders do we support and what kind do we oppose?   Jesus said to His followers to look at the fruit of their lives.   Look at how they live, not just their words.   The believers are taught to examine things carefully when choosing leaders. They must not be leaders for the purpose of enriching themselves. They must be eager as volunteer workers. They must have a life that is a good example for others to follow. They m

8.1- To use a walker to get to a treadmill is my spiritual life. We are broken and need crutches and walkers to move to get stronger.  We need to refuse to become spiritually lazy and slothful as followers of Jesus. Mark 2. “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

7.31- Following Jesus teaches us that we can choose God as a number one leader over our family.   Family is to be loved, but they are not the ultimate guide in life.   God is.   Jesus taught in many places that disciples must put a priority on following God and obeying God number one. Mark 3. 31  Then His mother and His brothers *arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him. 32  A crowd was sitting around Him, and they *said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.” 33  Answering them, He *said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” 34  Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He *said, “Behold My mother and My brothers! 35  For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.”