November 2022 – Sonshine's Journal

November 26, 2022October 22, 2022

Gong, Cymbal or Harp?

1Cor 13 The Sounds of Love

Ever been to a band concert? Which instrument captures our attention; is it the loudest and less comforting to the ear? If you said gong or cymbal, you would be right. The cymbal has two pieces that, when struck together, vibrate quickly. Cymbals sounds are harsh; the pitch cannot be determined and is more like an unpleasant noise. Paul reminds the Corinthians and us as well that if our words came across without love, we are just like those noisy gongs or cymbals.

Take an assessment of yourself today. Do your words sound like a gong or a cymbal or soft like the angelic harps?

Further, Paul listed the attributes of love as a way of edifying the church. Were they being patient? Then they had the highest gift of love. How about kindness? To be kind to one another is a God-given trait that shows the attribute of God to an unbelieving world. After Paul listed all these qualities, he reminded the Corinthians that love never ends! It is long-lasting, permanent, and produces a soft-sounding quality because the greatest gift is love, even above faith and hope!

Are you a gong, a cymbal, or a soft sound like the harps of the angelic choir?

November 25, 2022October 21, 2022

Freely received, freely given.

1Cor 9 You may not know this fact, but all of the materials on Bible.org are free to anyone. Only three out of eight employees are salary based; all others, including this author, are full-time…get that… full-time volunteers. You might wonder why? The answer comes from the words of Paul to the Corinthians: “What then is my reward? That when I/we preach the gospel I/we may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my/our rights in the gospel.” [1Cor 9:18]

Bible.org is not only volunteer-based; all monies that are received are used for this work strictly by your donations. We are grateful beyond words for you who choose sacrificially to donate to this ministry. Truly Paul’s words ring true: “For since I am/we are free from all I can/we can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people.” [1Cor 9:19]

If you are looking for an end-of-year place to donate, please would you pray to include Bible.org in your donations? It takes hours and much planning to bring these materials to you freely. Again, Paul reminds us why he is, and we are volunteers in the Lord’s ministry: “I/We do all things because of the gospel so that I/we can be a participant in it.” [1Cor 9:23]

November 24, 2022October 20, 2022

“Yeast.”

1 Cor 5 If you have ever made bread, you know it doesn’t take much yeast to make it rise. Two teaspoons mixed in about six cups of flour will make two large loaves of bread because the yeast permeates the entire dough. In scripture, yeast represents sin, and just like in bread dough, that sin will permeate the whole batch of dough or the church. Perhaps that is why God commanded that it be unleavened bread for the communion table. To be a pure church, we must eradicate or remove the yeast of vice and evil.

The yeast of immorality existed in the Corinthian church, tainting its purity. To be pure, the church must not associate with sexually immoral people. Instead, they should have judged this sin, remove it, and the person or persons living this lifestyle. But, the Corinthian church not only allowed this immorality to co-exist, but they also did not condemn it. All we need to do is read Revelation’s second and third chapters to see how devastating sin is to a church. First, it loses its first love, then fear which is a snare, creeps in, then that sin becomes a stumbling block, and finally, false teaching taints the body.

Precious believers, be wise as serpents and harmless as doves as you discern and judge sin. Keep yourselves pure, and the church will be pure.

November 23, 2022October 18, 2022

Live the Bible so others Believe the Bible

1Cor 1-4 More on Sharing Christ

Paul is teaching in 1Cor 2: God has “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.” [1Cor 2:9] The work of the Holy Spirit reveals the truths about God and His Word to the unbelieving.

To continue our thoughts from yesterday’s post from Romans, if we want others to see and come to know God, we have to live out those truths. But, also realize that when we witness to someone who is an unbeliever, they are confounded and confused. They don’t love God the way we do. It is as simple as that. Paul goes on: The unbeliever does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. And he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned. [1Cor 2:14] So take heart when you witness to unbelievers. Do not be surprised when unbelievers scoff at you or seek to prove you wrong. We must be the light to the blind, and we do it by loving them as Christ loved us. God’s plan is higher than ours, and His ways are not the ways of men. [Is 55:8-9]

Today our challenge is to stop and praise God for the “things” that He has revealed to us and live it out practically. We do it because He loves us. We do it because we love them and want them to spend eternity with us. We do it because we have the mind of Christ. We do it because we now can access, discern and appraise what is truth and what is not! That is the truth of Hebrews 5:14, “But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.”

November 22, 2022October 18, 2022

The Practical Side of the Gospel

helping others is practical christianity

Rom. 11 to 13

Do you want others to come to know Jesus? Then live and share the gospel practically, beginning with being humble. You have a gift that the unbeliever needs and your attitude reveals the truth of what you say you are. Paul says to present your bodies a living sacrifice because that is your reasonable service to God for the marvelous gift you have been given.

True Christians reveal the practical side of God’s grace when they respond humbly, love without hypocrisy, and are steadfast in prayer. Where there is a need in the body, true Christians step up and provide it and practice loving neighbors as themselves. Just as Jesus said, it is not our outward appearance that draws people to Christ but our faith in what we do and say. [James 2:16-18] Take time to see what the spiritual eyes are revealing with your physical eyes. Ask yourself, how would I like others to respond to my needs and then, in like manner, respond with the attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit.

Peter succinctly says, “set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” [1Peter 2:9]

November 21, 2022October 14, 2022

The Good News!

Romans 9-11 The Heart of Paul

As the minister sent to preach the gospel, Paul’s heart is torn because his own people have rejected the Messiah of whom he preached. They saw the evidence of His miracles, listened as He taught, preached, and healed, but they instead cried, Crucify Him! Put his blood on our children and on us. [Matt 27:25] No wonder Paul’s heart is so heavy! But, here’s the sixty-four dollar question we should be asking ourselves, would we be willing to say, as Paul, I would forgo my time with God in eternity if they would turn and be saved? Are we asking them if we would see them in heaven?

As Paul noted, a partial hardening has happened, and it isn’t just to Israel but to our family members now. Hearts are hard, and souls are leaving earth to spend a Christ-less eternity in the depths of hell. That should grieve us and cause us to consider that question as Paul did. Do we say as Paul: “I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart…” [Rom 9:2] Remember this: “the one who believes in him will not be put to shame.” [Rom 9:33]

Who needs to hear the gospel message even one more time? Will you be ready to tell the good news for “God is not willing that any should perish but all come to repentance.”[2Pet 3:9]

November 20, 2022October 13, 2022

Rejoice!

Romans 5 Paul, as a minister of the gospel appointed by Jesus Christ Himself, turns the tables on those who say hope is ethereal, sufferings are heavy, and we can never be reconciled to God in this present age. Paul says “phooey,” as we would say in our vernacular. Instead, Paul reminds the Romans that hope is eternal; sufferings teach us to rejoice because they help us to endure and develop our character. Lastly, we can be reconciled to God even now. That is why both Paul wrote to Titus, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.” [Tit 2:11] and again in Romans 5:6, “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” And further, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” [Rom 5:8]

Now because of that one step, men can rejoice in that they are eternally saved, and “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” [Rom 8:1] Satan would have us believe that we are condemned for all eternity, but Jesus paid our sin debt so that now we are free to walk in the newness of life.

Have you met Jesus and received his gift of salvation so you can join in rejoicing?

November 19, 2022October 10, 2022

How bold are you?

Acts 25

Paul has been charged with crimes against the Temple and the Jewish religion. But, confidently and boldly answers: “I have committed no offense against the Jewish law or against the temple or against Caesar.” [Acts 25:8] Being perceptive, Paul knew what the Jewish leaders were conspiring to do, so he again responded to the Gentile ruler, Felix: “I have done nothing wrong to the Jews, as you also know very well.” [Acts 25:10]

How do we respond or react when we must defend ourselves? Are we like Paul, who knew if he answered wrongly, his head was on the chopping block, yet he trusted Messiah to be there for him? Again we hear Paul say, “This is the reason I do my best to always have a clear conscience toward God and people.” [Acts 24:16] Is our conscience clear?

Peter reminded his readers: “always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.” [1Pet 3:15] Each day, we are put into positions where we must respond with grace and truth. Peter reminds us to be ready because “the devil like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour, so resist him, strong in the faith.” [1Pet 5:8, 9]

Are you facing the devil’s schemes? Be strong believer! Be courageous believer! God is before you, behind you, and before you.

November 18, 2022October 10, 2022

God’s ways are higher than men’s

Acts 27-28 God’s Plans are Higher and Greater

Isaiah explained to his listeners that God’s plans are higher and superior to men’s deeds. Men had cautioned the builders of the Titanic to prepare for any disaster, and Paul warned the ship’s captain about sailing away from Crete. Yet, their voices fell upon deaf ears. The Titanic met an iceberg and sank, and many died. The ship Paul was on felt the battering of the hurricane but was saved.

Men are stubborn to listen to reason, and although Paul warned them, the storm came and punished the ship of the proud captain and centurion for two full weeks until they were ready to hear God’s plans for salvation. J.J.Astor and all his accumulated wealth are at the bottom of the Atlantic, but Paul, the crew, and the prisoners were saved alive, just as Paul told them. God can and will use disasters to prepare hearts to hear the salvation story. How many listened to the salvation story and repented on the Titanic? We may never know, but we do know that on Malta, many repented and were saved…even the father of the chief magistrate, Publius.

Even when men are stubborn, God will use even the harshest circumstances to prepare them to hear the story of the resurrected Christ.

What storm are you in or facing? Are you allowing God to use it to speak of Him to the hearts of others?

November 16, 2022October 7, 2022

“Divine Opportunities”

Acts 25-26 Paul courageously presented Christ to all he met. Some were Jews, and others were Gentiles. He stood before royalty and peasants, and God opened doors for him to speak about his transformation, and He also opens doors for us. Paul knew that he was God’s chosen instrument to carry the gospel far and wide and suffer as he did. [Acts 9:15] Do you know that you are a chosen instrument to share the good news? Are you looking for divine opportunities that God would place in your path?

Paul challenges us to understand the gospel message and how to present it to anyone at any time. Paul’s testimony was clear and challenging to the Roman rulers before whom he stood. Festus was befuddled; Agrippa asked, “in such a short time are you persuading me to become a Christian?” [Acts 26:28] Both left and as far as we know, they remained in their sin. Let that be a wake-up call to us! We must be prepared in season and out of season to present Christ and the gospel message. It might be just a quick word of encouragement or a conversation. Be alert and watchful wherever it may be, for this may be someone’s only opportunity to choose Christ. If we fail, they might have to stand before a holy God one day in eternity and hear, “depart from Me, I never knew you.”

Are we all prepared?