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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD Experiencing an extraordinary God in ordinary life
Issue# 514 June 7, 2002 Struggles One of the blessings about writing Gleanings From The Word every day is the variety of responses I get in my email box. Many are encouraging, often people share the struggles of their lives, and still others are decidedly hostile. I never quite know what to expect in my inbox. Yesterday’s story on a slip of the tongue was a perfect example. Many people wrote that they were blessed by what they called my "openness and honesty." Some people wrote and shared some things that they said they wouldn’t have shared before reading it. A small number wrote to tell me that it was inappropriate for a Bible teacher to admit to "that kind of thing." That gave me the impetus for this morning’s Gleanings. There are two good lessons here so I’ll keep them short. Firstly, you can’t please everybody. Knowing that, whenever you are faced with a choice please God. Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 NIV The second is that Christians in general and ministers of the Word in specific are not perfect. We are just like everyone else, we make mistakes, loose our temper, do the right thing for the wrong reason or the wrong thing for the right reason and in general work through our lives imperfectly just like you. My point? Don’t look at your Bible teacher, preacher, pastor or any other Christian to be the perfect example of Christianity. Some are very Christ like, others are not at all Christ like and we’re all human. "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. Luke 18:19 NIV If someone in authority in the church has hurt you or if you turned away from God because of something you saw a Christian do, you missed the boat. Look to Jesus not to Christians for your example. If there is something we are doing right, by all means emulate it. When we fall, pray for us and lift us up. Just don’t ever confuse us with being God. In my teaching, my writing and my life, Jesus and His Word trump me in every case. Glean what you can from my teachings (and my human side says I hope it is a lot) but put your faith in Jesus alone. know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. Galatians 2:16 NIV Until next time, if you’ve confused another Christian and God, turn to the real source of power, Jesus. If you hold baggage against God or the church because of things others have done, take it to God and forgive them. Don’t be separated from the joy and fullness (pleroma) of God, or an eternal relationship with Him because of something a person did. Be blessed today. Kevin Ministers and other servants of God are not perfect. If you’ve not accepted Christ as Saviour because of something they have done, look to the real source and not to their poor example. Look to Christ. Email me and I’ll share some Bible verses that explain why a personal relationship with Jesus is so important and a prayer that will make it possible Or simply begin the relationship by saying a prayer along the lines of: Dear God: I have made many mistakes in my life and done things I am not proud of. I need your love and forgiveness. I believe that you came into this world and gave your life on a cross to pay for my sins and that you defeated death and rose again. Please forgive me, and be the Lord of my life. I give my life to you Lord. Amen If you pray this prayer let me know and I will direct you to some free non-denominational resources that will help you grow in that newfound relationship. Did you know that at Gleanings, we have a dedicated team of prayer warriors and all prayer concerns are kept strictly confidential? Your comments, your questions and your joys are shared with the prayer team, to keep me accountable as the head of the ministry and to encourage them as they see God at work in your life. As with prayer all these things are kept confidential within the Gleanings team. To share your prayer concerns and praise reports email us. If you enjoy this issue of Gleanings From The Word, email it, in its entirety, to a friend. For information on use of Gleanings in your church newsletter or other situations please visit the permissions page To subscribe or unsubscribe, visit http://hundred-acre-woods.com/magic-list/lists/ or email me at gleanings@gleaningsfromtheword.com
To share your thoughts on this issue of Gleanings, or to share prayer concerns email us or write us at Gleanings From The Word 114 Oak St Sherwood Park, AB Canada T8A 0V8 © 2002 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin Gleanings From The Word Ministries International All Rights Reserved
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