No, we are no longer bound...
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Object:
No, we are no longer bound by the law, but the law shows us that we have messed up! Because we love our husband or wife, we want to know what pleases them and what sometimes hurts them. We try to do what is right, but sometimes we fail and look for forgiveness. We all are tempted and fail to please God.
In our marriage we sometimes turn to buddies to guide us. They may be able to set us straight. Sometimes we can bear each other's burdens when we fail because we have all gone through failures. In our relationship with God, some in our congregations may be able to lead us better than others. Pastors and elders may help guide us and support us though they may not be perfect themselves. They shouldn't brag and show us how great they are. We may look around us at all those sinners who are worse than us and feel satisfied. We view the news on TV and see horrible sinners all over the world -- maybe even in our government! My newspaper is full of the sins of others. If we are not careful it can take away the sting of sin in our own lives, and we can become proud that we are not as bad as those others!
We must not think that we can fool God. He is not interested in our excuses. We reap what we sow! It will not help a farmer to compare his crops with his neighbor's. The only thing that counts is his own success. He does not farm just to show how much better a farmer he is than his neighbor.
God tells us not to get tired of trying to please him. Hang in there and seek to do his will out of love for him. Don't get tired and give up. If we are getting tired, then call on him to give you his Spirit to strengthen you. If you do what you do to please God, then you will reap a great harvest. If you are in it just to please yourself, then beware!
It can be easier to do good to your fellow Christians, but this passage tells us to do good to all people -- even those you may not like. I have seen great success in the mission field when we do good to those who may hate us! Just keep on doing good. It may shock them into finding out what our secret is. I have seen it work in thousands of lives in Nepal. Some who have even gone to jail for their faith and suffered there have sometimes ended up winning their jailers to Christ.
Some try to obey outwardly the traditions of their family and friends. If they are doing it to try and win them that may not be bad, but if they do it just to avoid persecution then God won't be pleased. Do all for the glory of God.
In our marriage we sometimes turn to buddies to guide us. They may be able to set us straight. Sometimes we can bear each other's burdens when we fail because we have all gone through failures. In our relationship with God, some in our congregations may be able to lead us better than others. Pastors and elders may help guide us and support us though they may not be perfect themselves. They shouldn't brag and show us how great they are. We may look around us at all those sinners who are worse than us and feel satisfied. We view the news on TV and see horrible sinners all over the world -- maybe even in our government! My newspaper is full of the sins of others. If we are not careful it can take away the sting of sin in our own lives, and we can become proud that we are not as bad as those others!
We must not think that we can fool God. He is not interested in our excuses. We reap what we sow! It will not help a farmer to compare his crops with his neighbor's. The only thing that counts is his own success. He does not farm just to show how much better a farmer he is than his neighbor.
God tells us not to get tired of trying to please him. Hang in there and seek to do his will out of love for him. Don't get tired and give up. If we are getting tired, then call on him to give you his Spirit to strengthen you. If you do what you do to please God, then you will reap a great harvest. If you are in it just to please yourself, then beware!
It can be easier to do good to your fellow Christians, but this passage tells us to do good to all people -- even those you may not like. I have seen great success in the mission field when we do good to those who may hate us! Just keep on doing good. It may shock them into finding out what our secret is. I have seen it work in thousands of lives in Nepal. Some who have even gone to jail for their faith and suffered there have sometimes ended up winning their jailers to Christ.
Some try to obey outwardly the traditions of their family and friends. If they are doing it to try and win them that may not be bad, but if they do it just to avoid persecution then God won't be pleased. Do all for the glory of God.
