Spiritual snacks

When we have thoroughly read and searched all, let this be the final conclusion, “That through much tribulation we must enter into the Kingdom of God” (CIoC) Is this scriptural?  The Jewish King Solomon ’s conclusion is: “There is no end to books, and too much study will wear you out. Everything you were taught can be put into a few words: “Respect and obey God! This is what life is all about. God will judge everything we do, even what is done in secret, whether good or bad” Book of Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 The Promise – contemporary English version S A 2     “Chew” on...

S A 2 Indeed, if there had been anything better and more profitable to a person’s salvation than suffering surely Christ would have showed it by word and example. (CIoC) Read the following thoughts on Our fight as Christians Is this thesis correct, God doesn’t want anything to come between Him and us and if this is true does it mean a God first relationship requires suffering? Or is it like running laps during practice so you can be fit for the game?

No person is fit to comprehend the heavenly unless they submit themselves to the bearing of adversities for Christ’s sake. (CIoC) After digesting the biographies of Christ and the book of Acts determine if this is a true statement. Remember to pray for the persecuted church .

The more the flesh is wasted by affliction, so much more is the spirit strengthened by inward grace.(CIoC) Again, is this true? Do we need physical afflictions to grow spiritually? The true stories of William Wilberforce in his fight against the slave trade as depicted in the movie Amazing Grace ; of Joni Eareckson Tada in her struggle to handle a diving accident as depicted in the movie Joni;     and of Catherine Booth , a co-founder of the Salvation Army suggests that their physical afflictions gave them the opportunities to make significant contributions to society, yet what does scripture say about this? And what happens now that our inventions are speeding up the healing process?

And the higher a person has advanced in the Spirit, so much heavier the crosses one oftentimes finds, because the grief of one’s banishment increases with one’s love of God. (CIoC) S A 2 Wow, is it really true? The closer you are to God the harder it is? I know folks at the top have to make tougher decisions for the sake of the whole like a parent disciplining, but what about team work and the body of Christ?   How should discipline work in the body of Christ?

Christ’s whole life was a cross and martyrdom; and do you seek rest and joy for yourself. (CIoC) S A 2 This is an example of an author’s interpretation.   I don’t see Christ’s whole life as a cross and martyrdom.   I see Him forming relationships with folks in many aspects of society.   I see folks getting jealous and worried about their leadership ability because folks were following the God/man Jesus even though He didn’t have the qualifications they thought one should have.   I see a person in love with His Father, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I see the power of the Holy Spirit in His resurrection.   Read the biographi...

No person has in one’s heart sympathy with the passion of Christ as one who has suffered like Him. (CIoC) S A 2 Christ hardly ever asked for things for Himself.   Two notable times was when He asked His friends, His disciples, to pray with Him because God was asking Him to do something He didn’t want to do. And the other time was when He asked God to help us get along. I wonder how we’re doing in our current day.   Are we willing to pray through the tough things with Jesus?   Are we willing to be part of the answer to His prayer for church unity?