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This eagle sculpture is at the National Memorial Arboretum which is a national site of remembrance at Alrewas, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, England.
Love and faithfulness meet together;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
and righteousness looks down from heaven.
The Lord will indeed give what is good,
and our land will yield its harvest.
Righteousness goes before him
and prepares the way for his steps.
[Psalm 85:10-13 NIV]
5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
1. Like it or not, we are ALL sinners: As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” (Romans 3:10-12 NLT)
2. The punishment for sin is death: When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12 NLT)
3. Jesus is our only hope: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8 NLT) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NLT)
4. SALVATION is by GRACE through FAITH in JESUS: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)
5. Accept Jesus and receive eternal life: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NLT) But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12 NLT) And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12 NLT)
Read the Bible for yourself. Allow the Lord to speak to you through his Word. YOUR ETERNITY IS AT STAKE!
Here lies my wife's grandmother's Bible. We know it obviously wasn't printed by Johannes Gutenberg, but our best guess is that it's at least 100 years old, and it weighs a ton!
A section of the Taoist classic text Daodejing by Laozi (老子道德经下篇). I'm not sure why it's so scratched-up.
Romans 14:20
Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food ... (NKJV)
#Thankful #Pastor #Scriptures #Preaching #Love #DailyBible #JesusIsLord
"What is Reformation Day?"
Reformation Day is a Protestant religious holiday celebrated on October 31. It recognizes the day German monk Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Church in 1517. This act is commemorated as the official starting point of the Protestant Reformation.
Officially, Reformation Day has been commemorated since 1567. Exact dates for the holiday varied until after the two hundredth celebration in 1717 when October 31 became the official date of celebration in Germany and later expanded internationally.
Within the Lutheran tradition, Reformation Day is considered a lesser holiday and is officially named “The Festival of the Reformation.” Most Lutheran churches (and others who celebrate this day) commemorate it on the Sunday prior to October 31.
The impact of Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation has been enormous on global Christianity. In contrast to the extra-biblical traditions and works-based practices of Roman Catholicism, Luther called the Church back to the good news of salvation by grace alone through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Luther believed the Word of God was the supreme authority for the Christian faith, rather than tradition or papal decrees. In the process of bringing the Scriptures to the common person, Luther translated the Bible into German, published numerous books and sermons of biblical teachings, and composed numerous hymns based on biblical themes. Many of his hymns are still sung today.
Luther was brought to trial before the church, and the court attempted to force him to recant. Luther’s response is often quoted: “I cannot choose but adhere to the Word of God, which has possession of my conscience; nor can I possibly, nor will I even make any recantation, since it is neither safe nor honest to act contrary to conscience! Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise, so help me God! Amen.”
From Germany, the Protestant Reformation expanded through Europe, influencing the work of John Calvin in Geneva, Ulrich Zwingli in Zurich, and John Knox in Scotland. The Reformation Luther led also sparked the Anabaptist (free church) movement and the English Reformation. These movements, in turn, influenced the spread of Christianity to the Americas and throughout the world where European exploration took place. South Africa, India, Australia, and New Zealand all felt the impact of Luther’s hammer in Wittenberg.
Robert Rothwell has noted, “Today, Luther’s legacy lives on in the creeds and confessions of Protestant bodies worldwide. As we consider his importance this Reformation Day, let us equip ourselves to be knowledgeable proclaimers and defenders of biblical truth. May we be eager to preach the Gospel of God to the world and thereby spark a new reformation of church and culture.”
Reformation Day remains a central rallying point for all of those who choose to follow Christ by faith according to His Word. The holiday commemorates the actions of a man who was willing to stand against the ideas of his day and to present God’s Word as our guide for salvation (John 3:16) and Christian living.
Tken form: www.gotquestions.org
Dear friend, here are 5 things you should know:
1. Like it or not, we are ALL sinners: As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” (Romans 3:10-12 NLT)
2. The punishment for sin is death: When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12 NLT)
3. Jesus is our only hope: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8 NLT) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NLT)
4. SALVATION is by GRACE through FAITH in JESUS: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)
5. Accept Jesus and receive eternal life: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NLT) But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12 NLT) And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12 NLT)
Read the Bible for yourself. Allow the Lord to speak to you through his Word. YOUR ETERNITY IS AT STAKE!
Sincerely,
Someone who cares about you
my favorite photos > www.flickr.com/photos/roderickma/sets/72157623272274082/
my photo sets > www.flickr.com/photos/roderickma/sets
A man reads aloud from the bible at the corner of Bank Street and Somerset Street in Ottawa Ontario. His dog seems to listening intently.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.
I can't say it any better than scripture. I do have choices and can take control of some things but ultimately God is in all control and what a great peace and comfort to know that as I pursue dreams and goals that I can totally trust God, the creator and sustainer of the universe, who loves me and has a perfect plan!
The Bereans are a good example to follow, as sometimes, even well-meaning people may lead you astray as they themselves may have an incorrect understanding of the Scriptures. It's always a good idea to search the Scriptures for yourself.
A.I. generated image.
Sometimes when I'm photographing the underside of Covered Bridges I might see some wood carvings or graffiti but this is the first time I've seen placards with Bible Scriptures, in this case, parts of Psalm 119:5-16, affixed to the underside structure of a bridge. The Siegrist's Mill Covered Bridge was originally built in 1885 in West Hempfield Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In 2011 flood waters from tropical storm Lee lifted the bridge off its abutments and it floated downstream. The roots of a large sycamore tree stopped the bridge's progress and two large cranes were used to lift the bridge out of the Chiques Creek and onto dry land.
The decision to rebuild the bridge was made and two companies, Rettew Associates and Timber Frames, worked together to do the rebuild. They dismantled the existing bridge and marked salvageable parts that would go into the rebuild. Thirty of the existing timber pieces were used and 365 new pieces were added. In May of 2013, a 300 ton crane positioned the bridge on its new foundation which had been elevated by two feet from the original level to help prevent future flood damage. The rebuilt bridge, just like its predecessor, uses pine boards and battens and iw roofed with cedar shakes. The timber are rough-sawn Douglas Fir.
The bridge has a Burr arch design and is 101 feet long. The WGCB# for the bridge is 38-36-37#2.
Nikon D850 with Nikkor 19mm PC-E F4 perspective correction lens. F11, ISO 100. Oben tripod with Benro 3-way geared head.
So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for Him will he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
Hebrews 9:28
Once. One offering was sufficient to provide us a way to be free from our sins and be forgiven in His sight.
–Carli
handletting by me.
Dear friend, here are 5 things you should know:
1. Like it or not, we are ALL sinners: As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” (Romans 3:10-12 NLT)
2. The punishment for sin is death: When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12 NLT)
3. Jesus is our only hope: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8 NLT) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NLT)
4. SALVATION is by GRACE through FAITH in JESUS: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)
5. Accept Jesus and receive eternal life: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NLT) But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12 NLT) And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12 NLT)
Read the Bible for yourself. Allow the Lord to speak to you through his Word. YOUR ETERNITY IS AT STAKE!
Sincerely,
Someone who cares about you
Creed trudges through the dense forest north of Central City. He'd been able to keep standing before, but the adrenaline had long worn off. Every part of him aches. If it weren't for Heatmonger and his fire, he doesn't think he'd have lasted against Flash. He makes a mental note to thank the pyro, if he isn't being dragged back to Iron Heights at this very moment.
Creed would break him out, of course, but he'd really rather not go through the trouble.
Pushing aside lush greenery, he finally comes to a stop at his destination. In front of him stands a small, run down church. Its walls are covered in moss, and the roof is barely visible with the foliage. Grabbing onto the handle, he pulls the tall wooden door open and slips inside. The interior doesn't fare much better than outside. Windows are broken and the ground is overgrown. There are six rows of pews on either side of the singular aisle, all leading to the altar, where an old, bald man sits. He reads scripture aloud to the few people seated.
"Eradicator," the gruff, but charming voice of the bald man calls out upon noticing Creed, closing the book in his hands. "Welcome back."
"Monger come back?" Creed is quick to ask, signing in relief at the nod he receives.
"Just a little while ago, in fact," the bald man confirms, stepping down from the altar. "He didn't stay long, however. He said he needed some time to himself. Did something happen?"
"He… burned down his old cell block… with everyone in it," Creed says, pulling off his cloak and laying it over one of the pews. "At the time I didn't think anything of it, but I was wrong."
"You should've seen him," a voice from the pews calls, more chipper and youthful than the bald man. "His whole 'nothing bothers me!' attitude was completely gone. Totally flipped script."
"Spencer," the old man sighs, shaking his head. "Please, be considerate of your comrades feelings. Both Eradicator and Heatmonger took a giant leap for us all, and it will soon pay off."
"Sorry, sorry," he quickly apologizes.
"Did he debrief with you about the… change?"
"Heatmonger informed me of your communion, yes," he says, placing a hand atop Creed's shoulder. "I am glad you followed through with his will. Heatmonger may be anxious, but his heart is in the right place."
"Yeah… I know it is."
"Anyhow, you deserve proper rest," he says, leading Creed towards the back of the church. "Doctor Rosso will be here in the morning to check up on your wounds. I'll also make the call to get you a new costume."
"Thank you, Cicada," Creed says, nodding.
"Do not thank me, thank Raijin."
-^-
Barry stands at the front of the room, back turned to Joe's closed casket. He scans the room, spotting a multitude of friends and family, heartbroken expressions on their faces. Eddie sits with Jay and Joan near the door, Wally and Rudy are seated beside Ira, while across from them are Daniel and Iris. His eyes lock onto the seat beside Daniel, empty.
"The lightning that struck him… it's unlike anything we've ever seen."
Barry stands outside the hospital room, Daniel by his side. Inside said room lies August, body riddled with dark burns, ones the doctors can't tell the origin of.
"I'm terribly sorry about this streak of bad luck, Mr. Allen," the doctor says, "and I'm sorry for your loss, Mr. West."
Barry nods at the man, mouthing a thank you before he departs. Barry stares through the window, biting his inner lip at the sight of his best friend.
"Twice…" Daniel mumbles, clenching his fist tight. Barry turns to him, frowning. "Twice he chose to save me over them… what makes me so special? Why were they forfeit over me?"
"Daniel…" Barry sighs.
"They've saved so many lives, they've brought so many bad people down," he says, slamming his fist against the wall. "What good am I!? What did I do to deserve being alive!?"
"You don't have to 'do' anything, Daniel," Barry says, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I can't say for certain what went on… but I know Joe and August, and neither of them would want you to be like this… putting blame on yourself."
"I don't care what they'd want," Daniel mumbles, shrugging Barry's hand off. "I just want them standing here, with you."
Barry takes a deep breath. "I would like to thank you all for being here and showing your love and support in these… these difficult times. These last couple weeks have been… tough, to say the least, so I really do mean it, thank you all for being here.
Barry clears his throat. "Joe wa-" he pauses, head turning to the portrait sitting beside the casket. "My father… was a hero. Whether he had his badge and hat on, or a pair of flannel pajamas, he never stopped being an inspiration to me. He took me in when I was all alone; a time where I was angry at the world and afraid of what more it could take. He saved me. He helped me on the path to recovery and helped me feel whole again after losing everything. He helped make me who I am today; my morals, my ideals, and my drive to help everyone I can." Barry exhales a deep breath. "A thousand reasons," Barry begins, smiling as a tear rolls down his face. "That's a-uh, a lullaby of sorts that my father, Henry, used to sing to me and my brother whenever we couldn't sleep. It was simple, and I think my dad was making it up as he went along," Barry chuckles, earning a few laughs in response, "but even still, 'there are a thousand reasons to wake up tomorrow.' It stuck with me, ever since I was little. I've seen a lot of things and lost a lot of people I hold dear… but I know tomorrow is waiting for us, and there are a thousand reasons we should see it, and one of them is to honor the memory of Joe West; husband, father, and hero."
Barry thumbs away the tear as he steps away from the casket, returning to his seat beside Daniel and Iris. He feels the sorrow radiating from Daniel's body; the mournful frown, the puffy red eyes… he's in so much pain, but Barry doesn't know what to do, what to say. He knows pain, losing his mom and Malcolm, Francine and Joe… but never has been chosen to live, and forced to watch someone he loves die.
His head turns to the left as an arm wraps around him. Iris smiles at him softly, a sad but sincere smile. That smile makes him feel okay, but only for a second before he frowns, turning away from her. He knows. He knows it wasn't his fault, and that no matter what he did, he could have prevented what happened.
His gaze shifts between the casket and the empty chair beside Daniel. He can't change the past… but if they never knew, if his identity was still a secret…
Maybe they'd still be here.
-^-
Creed steps out onto the cliffside about a mile out from the church, basking in the gentle spring breeze. He used to come here often, the rushing flow of the waterfall putting his mind at ease. He hadn't come in a while, however. They were too close for distractions. He figures he's earned it now, however, especially after his fight with Flash.
As he approaches the edge of the cliff, his eyebrow raises. Sat along the edge, one leg dangling over the drop, is Heatmonger. The man wears the white hoodie he's seen in whenever at the church, as well as dark jeans. Creed watches as the man stares at the birds flying around the waterfall's peak.
"It's impolite to stare," Heatmonger calls out, eyes never leaving the birds.
Creed walks up to the edge, taking a seat beside his partner. "When Cicada said you needed time for yourself, I didn't think he meant here," Creed says, taking a deep breath of the fresh air. "Didn't think anyone else knew about this spot."
Heatmonger is silent for a moment before nodding. "Saw you make your way here back when I first joined up with you guys," he explains, taking in a breath of his own. "It's… nice. Free."
Creed lets the silence sink in. It's hard to tell by the black reflective sunglasses he has on, but Creed is sure Heatmonger's gaze has yet to leave the birds. Nearly five years the two have been partners, but he's never seen Heatmonger like this. No quippy sarcasm, no brash confidence… but a quiet embrace of his surroundings.
"The birds… why're you so interested in them?" he asks, looking over at the man.
Heatmonger frowns, the new scar running along his cheek and lip contorting and leaking blood past the stitching. "It's nothing special, really," he says, wiping the blood off his cheek, staining his sleeve crimson. "Birds are free… nothing can hold them back."
Creed nods, again letting the silence take over. He too watches one of the birds as it lands atop its nest, beginning to feed its young. He doesn't need to look to see the tear running down his partner's face.
"You keep to yourself," Creed says, placing a hand on the man's shoulder. "Everything I know about you has been learned in the present. I don't know what happened to you those years you were locked away…" he looks back at the hatchlings in the nest, "or what happened to the people you cared for… but you're my partner. I'm here if you need me."
-^-
"I didn't know what to do…" Wally mumbles, head lowered. "The storm was raging on, August was hit… and you were out cold. I dragged you all out into the mountains away from the plant, but by the time the storm ended, Heatmonger was gone, the pylons were completely liquified."
"Wally, you did the right thing," Barry says with a soft smile. "Saving people? It's always our first priority."
"Yeah but… I feel like I could've done more."
"You shouldn't have had to be up there in the first place," Eddie says, entering the room and taking a seat in the booth. "I'm still not even sure what happened."
"We're only working off theories right now," Barry says, passing the man an energy bar. "All I know is the lightning that was surrounding me was the same I saw Raijin use. I think he might have attacked us from within the Speed Force."
"And we think that same attack somehow jump-started my Speed Force connection," Jay explains, leaning against a table. "Either way, it still doesn't explain why the attack didn't affect Wally."
"I don't really get it either," Wally sighs. "One minute Mr. Jones is about to run into battle, and the next he's on the ground covered in that lightning."
"You said you were able to move him, right?" Barry asks, earning a nod from the boy. "Joe couldn't even touch me, it was like an electrical field around my body."
"What if it's his connection to the Speed Force that stopped it from reaching him?" Eddie asks, turning to look at Wally. "We know Wally's connection is stronger than any of ours, what if acted as an immunity to the attack?"
"That could be it… but that isn't good," Jay says with a frown. "If Raijin can take any of us down for his cronies to finish us off…"
"Then it's all on me…" Wally mumbles, eyes widening.
"I won't let it come to that," Barry says, determined. "I was able to push back against it, even if it was only a little. I'll keep getting stronger… I won't leave Wally to do this, not alone."
"Good, that's what I was hoping you'd say," Jay says as he steps away from the table. "We all have part to play right now, mine… just won't be here."
"What do you mean?" Wally asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Lucious, Heatmonger, he's my enemy… if he's a part of this… cult," Jay explains, pulling his jacket on, "he's my responsibility."
"Heatmonger killed a dozen inmates… people who were serving their time, putting in the effort to be better!" Barry protests, standing up from the booth. He clenches his fist, "He put my dad in a coma… You passed the torch to me when you accepted me as your successor. This isn't your responsibility, not anymore."
"You being my successor is exactly why it's still my responsibility," Jay chuckles, making Barry frown. "Listen, I have some old contacts from my JSA days; Informants, colleagues, even a few villains living the big life in retirement homes. I'll see what I can dig up about him, maybe even the others involved with Raijin. I'll make sure to be careful, but I urge you three to do the same."
"I don't like you going alone," Barry mumbles.
"These days you're never alone, not when I can pull a little dohickey out of my pocket and tell my wife goodnight," Jay says just as Barry's phone begins to buzz. "Speak of the devil."
"Wait, why is Joan texting him?" Wally asks, earning an exhausted sigh from Eddie. "What?!"
"I… I'm scared," Barry mumbles, staring down at the message. "Joe found out… and not even a month later he was… and August, he's in the hospital with no guarantee he'll ever wake up."
"What if telling her puts her in harm's way," Eddie cuts in, arms crossed. "That's what you were gonna say right? It probably will, especially knowing that woman. I'll bet you she's knocking on Captain Cold's door the next time he gives you the sniffles… but this ain't some highschool romance like lover boy over there. This is the woman you love, your future… you really okay lying to her? Keeping a part of yourself hidden deep inside? What happens when you drive her away? When all the lies and secrets build up until it's too much for either of you to handle.
"Take it from someone who knows," he says, mouth curving into a frown, "there's nothing worse than having no one when you're at your lowest."
Barry nods, his mouth a thin line as he stares at Eddie's solemn expression. His eyes peer down to his phone, staring at the wallpaper of himself and Iris as he contemplates what to do.
----------------------------
NEXT TIME: Revelations, New Faces, and More!
"All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
– 2 Tim 3:16-17.
Photo uploaded for World Book Day 2021.
Mosaic from the basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna.
Then Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn[a] is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.
"There is no one holy like the Lord;
there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
"Do not keep talking so proudly
or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the Lord is a God who knows,
and by him deeds are weighed."
[1 Samuel 2:1-2 NIV]
5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
1. Like it or not, we are ALL sinners: As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” (Romans 3:10-12 NLT)
2. The punishment for sin is death: When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12 NLT)
3. Jesus is our only hope: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8 NLT) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NLT)
4. SALVATION is by GRACE through FAITH in JESUS: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)
5. Accept Jesus and receive eternal life: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NLT) But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12 NLT) And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12 NLT)
Read the Bible for yourself. Allow the Lord to speak to you through his Word. YOUR ETERNITY IS AT STAKE!
James tells us to endure under trial and we will receive the crown of life! Where is he coming from? Isn't grace free ... or is this about grace at all? Eternal life and the crown of life are two different things. The free gift of salvation means we have eternal or everlasting life. James is saying here that we have a sovereign King that will crown us when we persevere ... but it has battles that impact us.
Life was treacherous for believers during the Roman Empire. It was a time when being a believer meant dealing with injustice for their beliefs. They endured torment, persecution, ridicule and even death. Yet James gives us a reason ... the crown of life to those that love and persevere for God!
The trials (peirasmos in Greek) of daily living can help purge us from the impurities of the carnal life -- like the fire purges the impurities out of a metal like gold, refining it so that the foreign substances are removed and it becomes pure and valuable. This is what being approved means, that we persevere, or bear up under pressure and persevering (hupomenō in Greek) under the injustice, being confident that our King is truly in control. Carnal life happens to be at war with the truth, and we must persevere to be refined, like gold, to become valuable to serve our Creator! We gain maturity as believers. This is not earning salvation (that's a free gift from God for believing Jesus Christ is your Savior), but the reward of receiving the crown of life for growing and maturing in our faith!
Read 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, 1 Timothy 4:6-8, 1 Peter 3:13-16 for more illumination.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
[Galatians 5:1 NIV]
5 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
1. Like it or not, we are ALL sinners: As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God. All have turned away; all have become useless. No one does good, not a single one.” (Romans 3:10-12 NLT)
2. The punishment for sin is death: When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. (Romans 5:12 NLT)
3. Jesus is our only hope: But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8 NLT) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23 NLT)
4. SALVATION is by GRACE through FAITH in JESUS: God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NLT)
5. Accept Jesus and receive eternal life: If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9 NLT) But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12 NLT) And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12 NLT)
Read the Bible for yourself. Allow the Lord to speak to you through his Word. YOUR ETERNITY IS AT STAKE!