The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian Church to instruct them how Christ expects his people to conduct themselves by faith and in accordance to the scriptures. He was well aware of the persecution of the church globally as he himself once did himself. However, he was now someone that other believers in Jesus now looked up to since his conversion on the road to Damascus ( Romans chapter 9). Notice the language he uses; first he advises them be watchful. To be watchful refers to two things, firstly to be aware of the enemy as a guard on watch would do protecting those he is instructed to protect as a soldier would. lastly to be aware of the arriving commander in charge should he come forth. Next he instructs them stand firm in the faith: this entails a bit of backbone towards ones convictions as he states later to be of courage. Then he instructs them to act like men, Why because men by historic value have always been the protectors whether speaking of a flock or a family, this tendencies makes one available to wrestle the opponent (in this case principalities and powers of darkness) it was in those days the job of men to keep away predators. Next he instructs them to be strong, this is accomplished two ways: first in one accord (there is always safety in numbers) and secondly in the Lord Jesus; it is the only two ways Paul would describe to be strong. And last but certainly not least he says "do all you do in love" If we remember the commandment of Jesus this is a self sacrificing, unconditional, predominate love. We must always follow the example of the savior, He gave all expecting nothing in return knowing he was doing the will of the Father and exemplifying what we also should do for one another and for all mankind!!!   

Christ's Example of Humility

 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,  who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,^[c] being born in the likeness of men.

If we are the Body of Christ shouldn't we make the effort to follow the head which is Christ Jesus? Aren't we to follow his teaching and put into practice what he has commanded us to to do? 

We are, we, should and we must others depend upon it and Jesus expects nothing less!!!

To know Him is to put faith in Him, To put faith in Him is to love Him, and to love Him is to obey Him.  We don't have to look to far from his word, to know that the more we trust Jesus the more we will want to know Him and the more we know him, not just know about him but interact and allow His interaction with us the more we find we love Him. The more we grow to love Him, the easier we find it to obey Him.

It's only when we refuse to obey Him does He seem distant from us. The distance grows as we continue to be disobedient to him. Just as in any relationship the less interaction the greater the distance. The greater the distance the less likely we are to change for the better. But if we will try and live by His word, the more likely we grow together than apart and the more radical change for the better we will find ourselves. This organic change comes from within and expresses itself outward as the world looks on. They can see a new you and how much you love the Savior.   

I don't know what you believe about the resurrection, but I can tell you that over 500 people declared by record of a resurrected Jesus. People witnessed Lazarus being raised to life by Jesus In which he delcared I am the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25), and in Mark 5:41 (KJV) And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her,Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted,Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.  and she arose as witnessed in two separate gospels (Mark and Luke). 

Jesus is really the Raiser of lives and as a person of faith I can declare to you that He truly is the resurrection and the life. Jesus is the only person who can raise you in the newness of life choose him today, and he will raise you up to a new life!!! 

The seed that is a mighty sequoia tree started with the tiny seed that died in the earth to become that tree. A beautiful picture of a treasured moment in time starts in a dark room so that the development in that dark time becomes a beautiful testimony of that precious view the photographer wants revealed. And the wine that is produced for a flavorful consumption is stored in a dark, cold place so that it produces the best result. 

Your darkest time like that of Christ is not meant to defeat you, but to develop you into the resurrection of life. Without his death Jesus could not be resurrected.  He wants the same thing in us. He wants us and others to come to him. He wants to take our test and make it a testimony. He wants to cause us to rise in him and bring others to him by what he brings us through and is bringing us through. So, don't curse your suffering, praise him and embrace him in the suffering, that your dark times can light the way for others to come to Christ. 

Remember this also what David said in the twenty third Psalm, "Even though i go through the shadowed valley called death, i will fear nothing not even evil done to me, for You (God) are with me, I know because your rod and your staff held by your hand comforts me".    

That doesn't mean that sin is ok with God, especially unconfessed sin. He doesn't want us to throw up our hands and say "what's the use I know the deal why bother, God will just forgive me anyhow and I'm just gonna repeat it anyhow" How can God forgive us if we don't ask for it and repent of that sin. 

That being said, God still desires us above all things and wants us in favor with Him. He loves us! look at what the apostle Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 1:4 "For we know, brothers and sisters^[b] loved by God, that he has chosen you," We don't have to feel hopeless and unloved. The Bible yes says that He Judges the just and the unjust, but his judgement is not without mercy. If we truly trust him with our lives than we even do ourselves. If we accept him as our choice and are in relationship with him like a wife chooses to follow her husband. We have to be in love with Jesus, even above "the sin that so easily besets us". Besets: is the act of stumbling over something or causes us to fail or fall in the way. 

If we truly want to go from a life of guilt and that lives the Jesus way or Spiritual Husband; then we need to surrender to him and allow what he did at Calvary cover us in his love and remove a guilt filled life to an understanding that God doesn't want to judge us, he wants to love on us and enrich us in that way that he loves us so that we turn away from our wicked ways and he can heal us towards him, because he truly loves us!!!  

Why would we possibly think that the Church replaces Israel? God establishes things for the eternal when He makes a promise. We need to earnestly read His word from cover to cover to get what God has established. A Hebrew savior was God walking among the Hebrew people to save them if they would accept him. And just because Hebrew people rejected him then doesn't mean they always will, nor has he rejected his promise to them. Jesus will sit upon a Hebrew throne in a hebrew nation in its most coveted city, Its capital Jerusalem.  He will open the eastern gate that has been closed by man. And then shall all things be made right in the world!!! 

No God has not forsaken Israel, because He never forsakes His promises!!! 

People Who have a passion for living are extremely focused. They have a single-mindedness that is daunting to those who lack a clear purpose in life! In Numbers 13:30, notice how Caleb "stilled or Quieted the people. This implies that the spies report brought about a loud vocal reaction from the people. Although Caleb knew that the report of the other spies was true, he told the people to go up and take the land, knowing that with God's help they were able to overcome the strong people. He had great faith! This took nerve on caleb's part! While the people had a faithless attitude toward God and his Promises. Caleb refused to let them stay in their dispassionate unbelief. His life was centered on God. He believed that God would deliver them. Have you ever had to standing your beliefs, knowing that others thought you were irrational? It's not very easy to stay fixed in you beliefs when there's a crowd around you that is full of doubt. Stay determined in your trust in God and He will support you as He gives you comfort and peace. He did that for Caleb hundreds of years ago., and He will do it for you today. Caleb followed the Lord"fully" - wholeheartedly. He had a different spirit and God took notice and brought him into the land that he scouted-and not only that-his children would inherit this land. God rewarded him (Numbers 14:24). When I think of Caleb's  life, knowing that he had such a passion for life, knowing that he believed that God could do anything, I'm ashamed of my own jaded faith. Caleb makes me realize that I need to trust wholly in God, Believing that He will help me even when there might be "giants" to overcome (v.33). I don't have to think of myself as a "grasshopper" in this world; God himself will give me the strength to conquer whatever enormous obstacle I'm facing. And He will do the same for you. Try to be like Caleb; don't just follow the crowd- have a passion for living, and stay focused for the sake of Christ. Keep your heart, soul, and spirit centered on Him. He will help you. ~~~ Dwell devotional August 12, 2014

Never forget That God is a good, good Father and he has your back!!! 

…I’ve gone almost my whole life feeling like a failure of a Christian. I always understood my spiritual success to be measured by an unspoken set of rules, and if I did ABCD, I’d be considered a good Christian.

I knew everything about how to appear Godly- how to act, how to worship, pray, respond with “God” answers, etc. I wanted to fit in with the Christian community, but somehow never felt good enough. Eventually this false me took over completely and I lived in it fully, deceiving even myself at times.

In this existence, I always experienced a significant amount of spiritual envy. I looked at the people around me, wondering what the secret was, how they could be experiencing God so intimately. And I lived with fear. Fear that people might see right through me.

And now…I’m done. The façade of “everything being great, I’ve got it together, I’m a really spiritual person, etc” is exhausting. For the first time in my life, I believe I’m experiencing freedom in Christ, freedom from guilt and freedom in who I am. …My time with God might be a little unconventional, I might go through phases where I feel like an inconsistent mess, and I WILL make mistakes- but it’s okay. I’m okay. ~~~~ the blog of Holly Pelz

God is real and he expects us to be real. His very essence is to love and to be loved of our own will. We as profession of faith can't truly love if we are fake. The way we live, or the way we react, or when we do/ don't reach out to others we show appreciation/ or lack there of; of truly who God is and has done for us on calvary!!!