Faith is strong and powerful to protect those who trust God to do His good and perfect will in their lives.
Jesus came to save all people. His compassion was for those who were deemed of no value in His society. His anger was reserved for the powerful and controlling religious rulers. In the end they convinced other believers to crucify their Messiah.
We look for the blessed hope and the appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He is the One who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquities and establish unto Himself a people created for good works for those the world has forgotten.
“And the Word [Jesus] became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth”
And His truth will set us free.
Grace is not license to sin. We should be able to live peaceful and quiet lives. We are set free to live in the Spirit and not in the craziness of this world. In Christ we in are in good standing with God and Holy Spirit will guide us and help us to discern what is good and what is evil. We just need to listen to Him.
On June 11, 1963, history was made when James Hood and Vivian Malone walked through two white wood doors at Foster Auditorium to enroll at the University, the first African American students in the school's history.
Their action proved all the more courageous, given that they needed to pass the Governor himself as he stood in that doorway, defiant in his intolerance and the fanaticism that still reverberated from his inaugural address, "Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever!" said Governor George Wallace.
I cannot imagine their courage or their fear. I can imagine that they shook more than just a little on the inside, and wondered, if only fleetingly, "Is it worth it? Maybe, this is a good time to turn around."
Here's the deal: There will always be a door to hope or gratitude or respect or worth or kindness or delight or compassion or mercy or dignity or vulnerability or value or opportunity or dreams.
And, we must first open that door to our self.
Only then do we realize that when we walk through that door, we say No to shame or resentment or self-righteousness or fear or indifference or detachment or numbness or hopelessness or humiliation or hatred or despair.
"Count me in," I said (on the inside), knowing full well that this will be easier said than done. Because, I tell myself, courage is not easy to come by. But empowers us to the freedom to choose to care. Sabbath Moments
This was Paul’s opinion. “Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV). What is coming will make sense of what is happening now. Let God finish his work. The forecast is simple. Good days, bad days. But God is in all days. He is the Lord of the famine and the Lord of the feast, and he uses both to accomplish his will. Max Lucado
Acts 26:17-18
17 I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ The New King James Version
Paul was made a Christian by Divine power; by a revelation of Christ both to him and in him; when in the full career of his sin. He was made a minister by Divine authority: the same Jesus who appeared to him in that glorious light, ordered him to preach the gospel to the Gentiles. A world that sits in darkness must be enlightened; those must be brought to know the things that belong to their everlasting peace, who are yet ignorant of them. A world that lies in wickedness must be sanctified and reformed; it is not enough for them to have their eyes opened, they must have their hearts renewed; not enough to be turned from darkness to light, but they must be turned from the power of Satan unto God. All who are turned from sin to God, are not only pardoned, but have a grant of a rich inheritance. The forgiveness of sins makes way for this. None can be happy who are not holy; and to be saints in heaven we must be first saints on earth. We are made holy, and saved by faith in Christ; by which we rely upon Christ as the Lord our Righteousness, and give up ourselves to him as the Lord our Ruler; by this we receive the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and eternal life. The cross of Christ was a stumbling-block to the Jews, and they were in a rage at Paul’s preaching the fulfilling of the Old Testament predictions. Christ should be the first that should rise from the dead; the Head or principal One. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Isaiah 35:5
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Acts 20:32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.
Ephesians 5:8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
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