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7-30-14 Delight in God's Law

7/30/2014

          Psalm 1:1-3

Bessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners,nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord;
and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his leaf also shall not wither;
and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

These three verses give a fantastic overview of the victorious Christian life. The first section gives real clarity on my standard and practice. The second section addresses the causal reason for maintaining those practices. The third section describes the spiritual profit that God brings to me when I employ them.

The core from which both practice and profit emanate is the depth of delight that I have in the eternal, infallible Word of God . It is that principle of joyful anticipation in understanding the heart, mind, will and purpose of God that causes me to meditate day and night.

Every thought, decision, action and word is to be filtered through the Word of God. As result, my thoughts, having been brought captive to the Scriptures, are in alinement with His heart. My actions are regulated by the rails of righteousness that are given to me by my Lord. My words are brought under the control of the indwelling Holy Spirit, and are used to exalt God and edify men.

Praise the Lord for His Word!

                           (C) 2014 N.A.Collins
                   Limited copy permission for one personal file copy

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7-23-14 Glorying in Infirmities

7/23/2014

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For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. (Jeremiah 29:11)
This passage, seen above, is my life verse, and has carried me victoriously through many challenges and difficulties. My greatest treasure is the sovereignty of God! What hope, joy and peace comes from knowing my perfect, all-wise Lord is a sun and shield, and that no good, Christ-conforming thing will He withhold from His obedient children.

Recently, I took a serious fall that could easily have taken my life, but God protected me, and convinced me that it was time to stabilize myself with the use of a cane. The progressing neuropathy in my feet has made that imperative.

I definitely have had the opportunity to do what I teach, as it was absolutely necessary to make that submissive commitment to God. What a blessing it was when, for the very first time, I realized the thing that I had originally resented was actually God's 1 Corinthians 10:13 "way of escape" for my continuing life and ministry. Now I find myself thanking God for it! Is it ever necessary to run back again to that place of submission? Yes, but only when my focus moves to what people think or how it must look more than what God is doing in me for His glory. The apostle Paul said it best when his human desire was thrice denied and the promise of sufficient grace given. He said simply, "Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9b.

"God has every right and my permission (yielded-ness)
to rearrange my life in any way, at any time, in order to
fulfill His plan for its influence, to His glory."

(C) 1992, 2014 N. A. Collins
Limited copy permission for one personal file copy.

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7-2-14 Precepts - Principles - "Practicles"

7/2/2014

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But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.   James 1:22

I have so often been convicted by this passage in James 1:22. For a long part of my Christian life, I struggled with that age-old dilemma of knowing WHAT to do, but having no clue as to HOW to do it.

In those early years following my salvation, I recognized the practical definition of a biblical PRECEPT. I knew it was the clear stated requirements of God for pleasing Him. As I grew, I came to realize that there were also biblical PRINCIPLES given as applicational guidelines. While they were as critical to spiritual growth and maturity as were the precepts, there was still that seemingly impossible matter of the means to accomplish them.

As I began to seek the Lord in this matter, I realized that there could be many and varied ways to see them fleshed out in my life. Thus, I began to define some steps of action in my mind that would being practical biblical change in an obedient response to the precepts and principles of Scripture. Those methods, or "tools", I began to think of as "PRACTICALS".

St the time of my salvation, God had equipped and enabled me for the ministry of exhortation, and He began to show me that moving from Truth to Action by specific and definable actions would accomplish The desire of His heart, as revealed in Scripture. You may be wondering what some of those what I call Truth and Action steps are. I would like to think through a few of them with you. For instance:

    1.     TRUTH : When God says in Matthew 22:37-39 ( a precept) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

            ACTION :    Study God's Word the first thing every morning, showing God is top priority. Note verbs (action words) and determine what would accomplish them. Write a key verse on a card and review aloud frequently during the day.


       2.   TRUTH : When God states in 2 Corinthians 10:12 ( a principle) For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves:but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

              ACTION:    From that key meditation verse, jot down Christlike Attitudes ( how He would think), Behaviour ( how He would walk), and Communication (how He would talk).

        3.    TRUTH:     When I am reminded in Proverbs 25:28 ( a principle)   He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

              ACTION:   Structure time by a written schedule, structure money by a written budget

         4.     TRUTH:   When God teaches from 1 Peter 2:13-15 (a precept)   Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake:whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

                ACTION: Deal with temptation to be non-submissive to authorities by Scripture - write this verse on a card to keep handy to review
                                Prayer - prayer of agreement with the passage
                                Action - action of agreement with the passage

            5. TRUTH: When God teaches in Romans 8:28-29a   ( a principle) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son...

                  ACTION: Consciously rehearse Gods divine purpose of conformity to Christ in all things, keeping a journal of God's good working toward that end in each circumstance.

                         (C) N.A.Collins
                  Limited copy permission for one personal file copy.

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7-30-14 Delight in God's Law

7-23-14 Glorying in Infirmities

7-2-14 Precepts - Principles - "Practicles"

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