Showing posts with label 1 Peter 1:13. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Peter 1:13. Show all posts

Monday, November 24, 2014

Gramma-TEA-ically : a significant cuppa

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stay true to the Lord. 
(Philippians 4:1, NLT)

Therefore, an adverb---meaning; a result.....for that reason.
THEREFORE ----used 1468 times in the King James version of the Bible. 

Cole Huffman sees "therefore" as an encapsulating word which shows us what all the preceding words were there for.  In the scriptures, it is often used after the writer has shown all that God has done for you (me)---therefore, or in light of all of this, here's what should follow in your (my) life.

One of the first things I learned in my early years of Kay Arthur Bible studies, was the "therefore rule." 
If therefore appears in a passage, and it will a lot, it will be incumbent on you to find out what it's there for. In other words, it's our responsibility to "open" our Bibles and dig into the Scripture allowing God to reveal truth and the life lessons He has for each of us.
Here are a few "therefores" for your digging pleasure......
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,... 1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, put on the whole armor of God...Ephesians 6:13 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed....Philippians 2:12 Therefore, there is now no condemnation....Romans 8:1 
.....therefore you can enjoy the fruit of that labor as you gratefully sip a gramma-TEA-ically significant cuppa.  

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Fideli-TEA : a Cuppa hope

All honor to God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; for it is his boundless mercy that has given us the privilege of being born again so that we are now members of God’s own family. Now we live in the hope of eternal life because Christ rose again from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3, TLB)

Faith! Faith!! Faith!!! Hope! Hope!! Hope!!!
Faith from the latin fidere – to trust. Confidence or trust---for me it is a necessary facet of hope. 
The "what ifs" of a faithless life, breed worry and negate hope. Worry is the antithesis of hope---without faith there is no hope for a better tomorrow. 
People who have faith, have hope.  People who have hope, have faith.  Seemingly, a person cannot have one without the other. "One has to be faithful to be hopeful." (Cole Huffman, 11/9/14)

FAITH is defined as a belief which expresses confidence in the truth or veracity of someone. Even Wikipedia got it right this time. The One who is Truth is the bedrock of faith. In Him alone one can have confidence. The Lord Jesus Christ is that someone. In Him we have hope.
In Christ Alone my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song; this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,....

"Hope is only found in faith. Living hope is only available with belief in a risen God. (1Peter 1:13) Hope is like the "gold standard" of faith. Deep joy which transcends circumstances results from a "living hope reality."(notes from CH sermon, 11/914)

Fideli-TEA served in a cuppa hope is only available through a risen Lord.