Refreshing Our Spirits With Scripture

 10.31- Capitalism thrives on you believing your entire reason for being alive is to work, produce and prove your worth via labor. The Nap Ministry Matthew 16. 24  Then Jesus said to His disciples,  “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.   25  For whoever wants to save his  [ y ] life will lose it; but whoever loses his  [ z ] life for My sake will find it.   26  For what good will it do a person if he gains the whole world, but  [ aa ] forfeits his soul? Or what will a person give in exchange for his soul?   27  For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and  will then repay every person according to his   [ ab ] deeds .

 10.30- "Sadly, we unfairly weight the scales as we grow older because things like power, money, status, race, and gender distort our vision and sense of justice. " Sam Won Matthew 18. 18  At that  [ a ] time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”   2  And He called a child to Himself and set him among them,   3  and said,  “Truly I say to you, unless you  [ b ] change and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.   4  So whoever will humble himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.   5  And whoever receives one such child in My name, receives Me;   6  but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to  [ c ] sin, it is better for him that a  [ d ] heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.

 10.29- James Merritt wrote, And one other thing: When I point out a clear violation of scripture don’t change the subject, shift the narrative, or turn the discussion to me or anyone else. Have the courage to show me where I am wrong or save your breath. When Jesus got right to the point of engagement with the deep spiritual issues of a woman she wants to change the subject and talk about religion. John 4. 4  So then, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that  [ a ] He was making and baptizing more disciples than John   2  (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing; rather, His disciples  were ),   3  He left Judea and went away again to Galilee.   4  And He had to pass through Samaria.   5  So He *came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph;   6  and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, tired from His jour...

 10.28- It is never too late to extend grace and mercy to someone who wants to receive it. If they are alive and of sound mind it is available from God and His children. Luke 23. 39  One of the criminals who were hanged  there  was  [ q ] hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the  [ r ] Christ? Save Yourself and us!”   40  But the other responded, and rebuking him, said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?   41  And we indeed  are suffering  justly, for we are receiving  [ s ] what we deserve for our crimes; but this man has done nothing wrong.”   42  And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!”   43  And He said to him,  “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

 10.27- Citizens of great countries have freedom of religion, assembly, press and petition which allows light to shine and mark wounds and heal them. You can be a disciple of Jesus in any country, but in some places they persecute Christians. In America we have freedom. May it ever be so. Acts 22. 25  But when they stretched him out  [ k ] with straps, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, “Is it  [ l ] lawful for you to flog  a man who is a Roman and uncondemned?”

 10.26- "As much as is within you be at peace with all men." this is a quote my mother placed before me. This requires that we work with God for justice for all men. There are times I have thought, "Lord they are for war and I am for peace." On deeper reflection I realized I had not been just and loving to them. I had ignored them or discounted them. It one thing to say I will do the right thing. It is another thing to do the right thing. Romans 12.   18  If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people.   19  Never take your own revenge, beloved, but  [ u ] leave room for the wrath  of God , for it is written: “ Vengeance is Mine , I  will repay ,” says the Lord.   20  “ But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head .”   21  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 10.25- When your coffee pot is aligned right it makes hot coffee. When your coffee pot is aligned wrong it makes a hot mess. So it is with my mind being aligned with God's love. The world is not aligned with Jesus. They rejected Him though He was the cornerstone from God's point of view. His way is not the world's way. His way is to love all people. The world's way is one of division and war and hate. His way is to love and bless even His enemies. Matthew 21. 42  Jesus *said to them,  “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘A  stone which the builders rejected , This has become the   [ s ] chief cornerstone ; This came about from the Lord , And it is marvelous in our eyes ’?