Spiritual Growth

23
Mar
2024
Harvest Time

Harvest Time

“Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.'” (Revelation 14:15) (NIV)

Call to Harvest

In this passage, we witness a powerful scene from the Book of Revelation.

An angel emerges from the temple, calling out to another figure sitting on a cloud, urging him to reap the harvest of the earth, for the time has come.

This imagery invites us to reflect on the spiritual significance of harvest time.

Importance of Spiritual Fruitfulness

Throughout Scripture, we find a recurring theme of bearing spiritual fruit.

Just as farmers cultivate crops and reap the harvest, believers are called to nurture their spiritual lives and produce the fruits of righteousness.

These fruits manifest in our actions, attitudes, and character, reflecting the transformative power of God’s grace.

Urgency of the Harvest

The angel’s words, “for the harvest of the earth is ripe,” convey a sense of urgency. The time to reap the spiritual harvest is now.

We are reminded that our time on earth is fleeting, and we must make the most of every opportunity to bear spiritual fruit.

This urgency should spur us to action, inspiring us to deepen our relationship with God and actively seek ways to serve Him and others.

Preparing for the Harvest

As we consider the spiritual harvest, we must examine our own hearts and lives.

  • Are we cultivating the soil of our souls, allowing the Word of God to take root and flourish?
  • Are we pruning away distractions and sin that might hinder our growth?

Heed the call of this passage, recognizing the urgency of the spiritual harvest and embrace the opportunity to bear fruit that will endure for eternity.

Allow the Holy Spirit to work within you, transforming you into a fruitful branch that brings glory to God and bless those around you.

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Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Ministries
03
Mar
2024
Putting Away All Malice

Putting Away All Malice

“But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” (Colossians 3:8)

Examining Our Hearts

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul instructs believers to meticulously examine their hearts and cast off any sins that have taken root. Although we have been made new in Christ, vestiges of our old nature still rear their ugly heads.

As redeemed saints, we must be brutal in ripping out these sins from our lives. Paul lists several specific ones – unchecked anger, raging fury, spiteful malice, abusive speech.

Like persistent weeds, they can quickly overrun our souls if not eliminated.

Malice in Our Midst

Malice is an especially dangerous weed – its roots dig down deep into the soil of our inner being. It springs up slowly, often unnoticed, but silently chokes out the fruit God desires.

This bitter root produces resentment, jealousy, distrust, and hatred towards others.

Even fellow believers can become targets of our malice. We begin viewing them through suspicious eyes, questioning their motives.

We withdraw, murmur, divide. Unchecked, malice metastasizes, poisoning our fellowship. As God’s chosen ones, we must purge this evil from our midst.

Cultivating Clean Hearts

Eradicating malice requires brutal honesty and courage. We must allow the light of Christ to shine into the hidden crevices of our hearts, exposing malicious motives.

Repentance and forgiveness will wash away past offenses.

Moving forward, we must nurture hearts soft to the leading of the Spirit, quick to extend grace. As malice withers in fertile soil of love, joy and peace will blossom, enriching all our relationships.

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Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration
17
Feb
2024
Power of Humility, Gentleness, and Patience

Power of Humility, Gentleness, and Patience

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

When we think of the word “power,” we often associate it with strength, might, and dominance. However, the Bible teaches us that true power lies in humility, gentleness, and patience.

In Ephesians 4:2, we are called to be “completely humble and gentle” and to “be patient, bearing with one another in love.” These three virtues are not only essential to our spiritual growth but also to our relationships with others.

In this devotional, we will explore the power of humility, gentleness, and patience and how they can transform our lives.

Power of Humility

Humility is often misunderstood as weakness or lack of confidence. However, true humility is the opposite of pride and arrogance. It is recognizing that we are not perfect and that we need God’s grace and mercy.

When we are humble, we are free from the burden of trying to prove ourselves to others. Instead, we can focus on serving others and putting their needs before our own.

Humility allows us to learn from our mistakes and grow in our faith. It also helps us to be more compassionate and understanding towards others.

Power of Gentleness

Gentleness is often associated with being soft or passive. However, gentleness is a powerful virtue that requires great strength and self-control. When we are gentle, we are able to control our emotions and respond to others with kindness and compassion.

Gentleness allows us to be peacemakers and to resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner. It also helps us to build trust and deepen our relationships with others.

When we are gentle, we are able to see the good in others and to encourage them to be their best selves.

Power of Patience

Patience is often described as waiting without complaining. However, true patience is much more than that. It is the ability to endure difficult circumstances without losing hope or faith.

When we are patient, we are able to trust in God’s timing and to wait for His plans to unfold. Patience allows us to persevere through trials and to grow in our faith.

It also helps us to be more understanding and forgiving towards others. When we are patient, we are able to see the bigger picture and to trust that God is working all things together for our good.

Essentials

The power of humility, gentleness, and patience cannot be overstated. These three virtues are essential to our spiritual growth and to our relationships with others.

When we are humble, gentle, and patient, we are able to reflect the love of Christ to those around us. We are able to build deeper relationships and to make a positive impact in the world.

Strive to cultivate these virtues in our lives and to be a shining light to those around us.

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Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration
16
Feb
2024
The Soul That Sins Shall Die

The Soul That Sins Shall Die

“The one who sins is the one who will die. The child will not share the guilt of the parent, nor will the parent share the guilt of the child. The righteousness of the righteous will be credited to them, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against them.” Ezekiel 18:20

Context

This verse comes from a chapter in which the prophet Ezekiel addresses a common proverb among the exiled Israelites: “The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.” (Ezekiel 18:2)

This proverb implies that the children are suffering for the sins of their ancestors, and that God is unjust in punishing them. Ezekiel rejects this proverb and declares that God judges each person according to their own deeds, not according to their family history.

He also affirms that God does not delight in the death of the wicked, but rather desires them to repent and live. (Ezekiel 18:23)

The Message

What can we learn from this verse and its context? First, we can learn that God is fair and righteous. He does not hold us accountable for the sins of others, nor does He let us off the hook for our own sins.

He evaluates us individually, based on our choices and actions. He does not show favoritism or partiality, but treats everyone equally and impartially. He is the perfect judge, who knows everything and sees everything.

Second, we can learn that we are responsible and accountable. We cannot blame our parents, our children, our circumstances, or anyone else for our sins.

We cannot rely on our heritage, our status, our achievements, or anyone else for our righteousness. We have to face the consequences of our own decisions and actions.

We have to answer to God for our own lives. We have to repent and obey God for our own salvation.

Third, we can learn that God is gracious and merciful. He does not want us to perish, but to live.

He does not take pleasure in our suffering, but in our joy. He does not condemn us, but offers us forgiveness.

He does not reject us, but welcomes us. He does not leave us, but helps us. He does not give up on us, but restores us. He does not hate us, but loves us.

Application

How can we apply this verse and its message to our lives? Here are some suggestions:

•          Examine yourself. Ask God to search your heart and reveal any sin that you need to confess and forsake. Do not justify, rationalize, or minimize your sin, but admit it and repent of it.

Do not compare yourself with others, but measure yourself by God’s standards. Do not presume on God’s grace, but appreciate it and respond to it.

•          Trust God. Believe that God is fair and righteous, and that He will judge you and others according to His justice.

Do not doubt, question, or resent God’s ways, but accept them and submit to them. Do not fear, worry, or despair about God’s wrath, but hope in His mercy and love.

•          Follow God. Obey God’s commands and do what is right in His sight. Do not rebel, disobey, or compromise with sin, but resist it and overcome it. Do not conform, imitate, or follow the world, but be transformed and renewed by God’s Spirit.

Do not seek, love, or serve the things of this world, but seek, love, and serve God and His kingdom.

The soul that sins shall die, but the soul that repents and believes shall live. This is the message of Ezekiel 18:20, and this is the message of the gospel. Let us heed it and live by it.

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Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration
15
Feb
2024
Guarding Against Unbelief

Guarding Against Unbelief

“See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” Hebrews 3:12

Subtle Danger

The author of Hebrews warns believers here about an insidious threat – creeping unbelief toward God resulting in heart-drift. How easily we become apathetic, cynical, or disillusioned in our walk with Christ.

Circumstances, disappointments, weariness or worldly values can slowly erode childlike trust. We begin questioning God’s goodness, minimizing sin, or casually skipping spiritual disciplines. Before we know it, an unbelieving heart has supplanted once-vibrant faith.

Scripture exhorts us to actively guard against subtle drift. Nurture a heart tender and receptive toward God. Shield it from faith-sapping lies or distractions.

Stay alert to unbelief’s danger. Protect the precious gift of childlike trust.

Exposing the Roots

To guard our hearts, we must identify unbelief’s roots. Often it springs from frustrated expectations – we didn’t get what we wanted from God.

Focus shifted from delight in God’s presence to treating Him as a means to an end. We sought His hand more than His face. Unmet desires bred resentment. True faith rests in God’s character, not just His benefits.

It cherishes intimacy with Him above all else. Even amid confusion, pain, or unanswered prayer, it still worships and adores.

Ask God to check your motivations. Are you seeking abundant life in Christ or just temporal blessings? Remain fixed on the Giver over the gifts.

Cultivating Childlike Trust

Unwavering faith requires nurturing childlike humility and wonder. We must cling to God with wide-eyed dependence, believing without demanding explanations.

Children trust easily – they ask few questions yet expect good from loving parents. Jesus said we must receive His kingdom as a child (Luke 18:17).

Approach your Father eager to obey, quick to believe. Don’t let past disappointments harden your heart into skepticism. God invites you to rediscover awe, delight, gratitude, and hope.

“Taste and see that He is good!” (Psalm 34:8) The joy of unconditional trust far exceeds the fleeting pleasures of unbelief.

Anchored in God’s Faithfulness

Lastly, guard against drift by anchoring in God’s proven faithfulness. Like the Israelites, we easily forget His past rescues, miracles, answers to prayer and provision. Our spiritual amnesia fuels faithlessness. That’s why God commanded His people to regularly recount His deeds (Deuteronomy 6).

We must rekindle amazement by remembering divine works. Review God’s track record in your life. Recall with specifics the times He answered prayer, guided, provided, intervened or redeemed.

Let these testimonies reignite childlike awe. Our faithful God is worthy of complete trust!

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“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration