In this life it seems we naturally want to do everything that makes us happy or gives us pleasure. We don't wake up and think, "I want to go suffer today!!!" Yet sometimes, if there is a reward or prize waiting for us at the end, we will endure some suffering...
And that is what I want to discuss today. In our lives, God gives us a lot of pleasures to enjoy! He has given us all things to enjoy, the scripture says. And yet, as a book I read once spoke of, our pleasure is like a river, but we cannot let it "overflow" the banks or else we have problems. So is pleasure and happiness - there are many things God gives us to enjoy, but some pleasures are not in accordance with what's right, which is loving God and loving our neighbors. Having an adulterous sexual relationship with another woman would extremely hurt one's wife and would betray her, even though that sexual relationship might be very pleasurable. And thus we deny ourselves things that go against loving our neighbor - chiefly our spouse and kids - and our God, the two great commandments Jesus spoke of.
But, lest we fall into temptation, let us consider another reason to deny ourselves. As alluded to earlier, we really have to remember that during this life, we are storing up rewards and treasures and pleasures for the life to come! Beginning with the simple yet powerful acceptance our Lord will give us after this life, when He tells us, "Well done, good and faithful servant!!" We want to hear that on judgment day, and not, "Depart from me, you who work LAWLESSNESS!!" Yes, even if we say a sinner's prayer, if we still live in habitual, grave lawlessness, we cannot enter the kingdom of God and have eternal life with eternal pleasures at the right hand of God. Being saved means a heart change that produces righteous fruit in one's life.
In addition to being accepted into eternal bliss with God and His Messiah, the scriptures speak of rewards being given to those who have merited them.
And thus, when we deny ourselves down here, just remember, it's like putting money and joy in your eternal bank account! Like attracting the favor of our Father now and in the life to come. And! He can give us almost immediate rewards in this life as well, I have experienced!
So to conclude, let us fight the good fight of faith, and bear the righteous fruits of our faith when we turn away from lawless, loveless pleasures that turn us into ugly selfish hedonists. And thus we can look up to our Father with an expectation to receive his smile, love and favor, in this life, and in the life to come!
Shalom to all seeking the way of Love in this life and the next.
-Greg
And that is what I want to discuss today. In our lives, God gives us a lot of pleasures to enjoy! He has given us all things to enjoy, the scripture says. And yet, as a book I read once spoke of, our pleasure is like a river, but we cannot let it "overflow" the banks or else we have problems. So is pleasure and happiness - there are many things God gives us to enjoy, but some pleasures are not in accordance with what's right, which is loving God and loving our neighbors. Having an adulterous sexual relationship with another woman would extremely hurt one's wife and would betray her, even though that sexual relationship might be very pleasurable. And thus we deny ourselves things that go against loving our neighbor - chiefly our spouse and kids - and our God, the two great commandments Jesus spoke of.
But, lest we fall into temptation, let us consider another reason to deny ourselves. As alluded to earlier, we really have to remember that during this life, we are storing up rewards and treasures and pleasures for the life to come! Beginning with the simple yet powerful acceptance our Lord will give us after this life, when He tells us, "Well done, good and faithful servant!!" We want to hear that on judgment day, and not, "Depart from me, you who work LAWLESSNESS!!" Yes, even if we say a sinner's prayer, if we still live in habitual, grave lawlessness, we cannot enter the kingdom of God and have eternal life with eternal pleasures at the right hand of God. Being saved means a heart change that produces righteous fruit in one's life.
In addition to being accepted into eternal bliss with God and His Messiah, the scriptures speak of rewards being given to those who have merited them.
And thus, when we deny ourselves down here, just remember, it's like putting money and joy in your eternal bank account! Like attracting the favor of our Father now and in the life to come. And! He can give us almost immediate rewards in this life as well, I have experienced!
So to conclude, let us fight the good fight of faith, and bear the righteous fruits of our faith when we turn away from lawless, loveless pleasures that turn us into ugly selfish hedonists. And thus we can look up to our Father with an expectation to receive his smile, love and favor, in this life, and in the life to come!
Shalom to all seeking the way of Love in this life and the next.
-Greg