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Bible
studies: As a diligent student of the Bible, you will want to make sure the Bible really says what this study says. Always remember to test all things with God's word - as the Bereans did. They "received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11). First, read the study all the way through, without looking up the Scriptures. Then read the study again, this time looking up the Scriptures. Highlight or mark each verse you look up so you can easily find it later. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How many people do you know who feel bad about things (Matt. 11:28-30)? They feel bad because they do not have more money. They feel bad about the cars they drive and the houses in which they live. They feel bad about their neighbors. They feel bad because they are on the heavy side or too thin. They look in the mirror and say, "If I only had dark hair, a prettier nose, or was taller…" White people spend hours in the sun to turn a golden brown. Sometimes dark-skinned people use a cream to lighten their skin. Human beings are never satisfied. They are overcome by their anxieties. One minute they are up and the next minute they are down. One minute they feel like throwing in the towel, the next minute they say, "I have no problems. I would be perfectly all right if it were not for those good for nothing…" Why do those who profess to be Christians continue to live to the flesh, when it is so easy to live to the Spirit and feel good about everything (Gal. 5:16, 25)? The word of God tells us to seek peace and earnestly pursue it (1 Peter 3:11). It says, "Whatever is peaceful, lovely and good, think on these things." (Phil. 4:8-9). Disciples of Jesus Christ have bad moments, not bad days! When we do good works to glorify the Father, as Jesus commanded us to do, we allow the Father to form Jesus Christ’s nature within us (Rom. 2:6-8; Matt. 5:16; Gal. 4:19). We may even do greater works than Jesus did, because He had to return to the Father (John 14:12). We overcome our natures by keeping the works of Jesus Christ (Rev. 2:26). We discipline ourselves according to godliness by imitating God and by doing His works, which are good works (1 Tim. 4:7; Eph. 5:1; 1 Cor. 11:1; Matt. 25:33-46). Jesus died so we could be free of guilt. When we live to please Him, we no longer need to feel guilty or have bad days. Instead, we will only have bad moments, which never turn into bad days because we cast all our cares into God’s lap. God said He will provide us with everything if we practice His righteousness and seek His kingdom first (Matt. 6:33; Rom. 10:3). So have a good day! (Feel free to give copies of this study to others who want to know God’s truth. You will be doing God’s Will when you show and tell others how to live this special Way.) |