Posts by Brandon Tipsword (Page 4)
A GREAT CONTRADICTION
This portion of the Psalm by King David contrasts the wrath of proud men to the longsuffering of an all knowing God. It is a great contradiction for man to benefit from the longsuffering of God and not show it one to another. It is especially egregious for believers who know the longsuffering of God to not offer the same to other believers. Regardless of this contradiction we must remember the greatest contradiction in human history is that Jesus the savior of the world was crucified by man, otherwise, we are likely to faint in our minds (Heb. 12:3).
THE LOVE COMMANDMENT
Jesus showed by example what love truly is. By laying down his life for us he demonstrated that greatest emptying of one self for others. He commands us to show the same type of love for others. Godly love is a self-sacrificial giving of ourselves for the benefit of others. The commandment is for all Christians to all Christians. On this Valentine’s Day and every day after, let’s surrender to His commandment.
A BITTER DWELLING PLACE
Sometimes in life we find ourselves in a bitter dwelling place drinking bitter water. When we do we must not stay there continuing to drink from a well that will make us spiritually sick. Rather, we must go to the cross of Calvary setting our eyes upon Jesus and begin drinking from the spring of living water that gives life and restores spiritual health.
KEEP GOING
Do you ever feel like giving up? When you are serving the Lord you are certain to face opposition. It is easy to get discouraged and want to give up because you are not seeing the fruit. However, this verse tells us that it is worth it to keep going. In “due season” or at the right time you will reap the harvest if you do not give up.
DUST THOU ART
There is no reason for man to be proud. We were created from dust where we shall return. However, because of pride we tend to create a lot of trouble between these two events. We would be much more humble if we remembered where we came from. If it were not for God we would not even exist.
SPIRIT OF BONDAGE
In this verse the spirit of bondage is contrasted with the Spirit of adoption. The spirit of bondage describes the lost person that lives in fear of death and/or fear of judgment from God. Therefore, their relationship to God is one of fear that produces torment (1 John 4:18). However, the Christian has the Spirit of adoption that affirms God is our loving heavenly Father and we are His child. Therefore, we are able to live for God based upon love and not fear. What a blessing!
IDOLS IN THE HEART
Imagine if in the old testament they had constructed an idol in the middle of the temple. What an offense that would have been to God. However, as Christians we do that very thing when we maintain idols of the heart. Is God on the throne of our hearts affections or something else? The answer determines who or what we are really serving because you cannot serve both at the same time.
HIS WORKMANSHIP
Millions of dollars have been paid for famous pieces of artwork. In 2017 someone paid $450.3 million for a painting called Salvator Mundi, which is a Latin phrase meaning Saviour of the world. It is one of Leonardo da Vinci’s paintings depicting Jesus Christ. I am sure in putting a value on the painting the buyer put much stock into the fact that it was a “da Vinci.” Since the Christian is a masterpiece created by God, what must we be worth? I suppose the answer lies in the nail pierced hands of the purchaser that shed His blood to pay the price to purchase you.
THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION
The word hope means expectation, confidence, or faith. Apparently, the believers at Thessalonica were not settled on their understanding of the bodily resurrection of the believer, thus they had the same type of grief over the death of a Christian as unbelievers. So the apostle Paul under inspiration of the Holy Ghost wrote to them affirming without a doubt that when a Christian dies the grave is not the end of the road for them or their body.
MEN OUGHT TO PRAY, ALWAYS
A good friend would often quote this verse when we would be talking about the troubles of life. He would simply say, “The Bible says, men ought always to pray, and not to faint”.