We live where God has placed us and He places us where we can do the most for His Kingdom. He redeemed us for good works because we are the hands and feet of our living God. We use our freedoms wisely and according to Scripture. All through the Bible we are told to protect the rights of the marginalized of societies and to spread the Good News of the Gospel of Grace. There are no boundaries to God’s love.
John3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Holy Spirit grows His fruit in us precept by precept!
What a wonderful God we serve.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.
John 15:5 (ESV) "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
In the Old Testament, Israel was depicted as a vine planted not by accident but by God. However, Israel proved to be a nation that did not remain faithful and therefore did not bear good fruit (Psalm 80:8-16; Isaiah 5:1-7; Jeremiah 2:21). Hundreds of years later, in John 15, God presented the true and better vine: Jesus Himself.
Rather than trying to rely on our own ability to cling tightly to God, especially during times when our circumstances or emotions feel insecure, we can trust the Father's pledge to grasp onto us. His perfect love covers our imperfections as we try our best to follow the ways of Jesus. He will not let us go but will hold us in His great grip, both now and in eternity (Psalm 139:9-10; Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 73:23; Isaiah 46:4; Psalm 63:8).
As believers in Christ, we are securely connected to Jesus. Our remaining in Him, made possible by the Father holding on to us, not only brings us joy (John 15:11) but also glorifies God, showing us to be true disciples (John 15:8; Colossians 1:23; 1 John 2:24). First5
When I was young, faith was about believing the right things.
I no longer think that is true.
Now I know.
Faith is about love.
And grace.
And inclusion.
Sabbath Moments
Acts 22:25–29
25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?” 26 When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.” 27 Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?” He said, “Yes.” 28 The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.” And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.” 29 Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him. The New King James Version
Roman law forbade the punishment of a citizen without a trial. Paul’s citizenship is by birth, due to him being from Tarsus—a municipality of the Roman Empire that automatically granted citizenship. The commander, as a member of the military, would have been a citizen of military order. From his military position, he then likely purchased his higher rank, which would move him to the upper (ruling) class order of citizens.Paul’s use of his Roman citizenship prevents him from being imprisoned immediately. Instead, he must go through a major Roman judicial process. Faithlife Study Bible Press.
The Roman law was that no Roman citizen could be chained, scourged, or killed without a proper trial. Failure to obey this law resulted in severe punishment for the one who commanded the illegal punishment. Paul had been chained and was about to be scourged without any formal charges having been made. Ultimately God used Paul’s Roman citizenship to spread the gospel to Rome. The NKJV Study Bible
As Paul was a Jew, in low circumstances, the Roman officer questioned how he obtained so valuable a distinction; but the apostle told him he was free born. Let us value that freedom to which all the children of God are born; which no sum of money, however large, can purchase for those who remain unregenerate. This at once put a stop to his trouble. Thus many are kept from evil practices by the fear of man, who would not be held back from them by the fear of God. The apostle asks, simply, Is it lawful? He knew that the God whom he served would support him under all sufferings for his name’s sake. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Acts 16:37–38 But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”And the officers told these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Romans.
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