lynette66

If we do everything for the glory of God, we will be "cleansed" and ready for the Lord's use when needed. Even when using our "everyday" dishes, we can praise God and give thanks. This will allow us to make of habit of serving God.

I see cowardice when I don't say "how" I get through certain things by replying "with God's help". If I am talking with a known Christian, I have no problem talkng about God's grace and help; if I am not sure or know someone isn't very religious, I might skirt around my answer. This is an area God is helping me to grow in.

I have been fortunate not to have long periods of feeling a lapse in using the gifts God has given me, but during my brief times, I try to pray to Him, asking for help to get through this time, doing the work he wants me to do and to WANT to do this work.

If we are bringing God into our lives daily, we will have contentment (I do, anyways). And if we try to follow God's will for our lives, we will improve; He guides us to the purpose he has for us and letting Him use us for his purpose is the peak of improvement.

I guess I didn't realize people DO use the Bible to justify their desire for money, financial gain....I hope this doesn't put ideas into my head! I do see many who focus on money and gaining "things" as a way to seek "contentment", but I was always grateful I didn't feel that way....

We are supposed to be like Christ, who wouldn't deny help to anyone, much less a parent. So, regardless of whether we consider it debt repayment or the 4th commandment, if we are trying to follow Christ, we will help our aging parents.

Godliness is trying to act as Jesus would on a consistent basis. It's more challenging than a strict morality, because it requires us to always be thinking about God and how we should act in all areas. It also has the potential to provide more peace and joy than a set of rules.

It's easier to follow a set of rules, than to "love one another as I have loved you". Some people just understand straightforward guidelines better than a principle on how to act all the time.

It is a way of alerting them to the predictions of the Bible, giving them another argument to use as they try to persuade others to follow God's word.

We belong to a church to get closer to Christ; if the leader is not behaving like Christ, we are not getting a good earthly example.

You want true followers of God, not the false teachers that they had in Ephesus. You can learn much about looking at a person's character and the way they live their lives, but people can fool you, too. This is tough; I think I would be easily fooled in trying to find a good leader!

I agree with much of what has been said about being loyal to one wife and about being a good family leader; it does make me think of priests (I was raised Catholic). They have no wives or families they are head of....

I've been wondering what I would read on this! I agree with the idea that God gives us gifts and we need to use them to serve Him, so if a woman happens to be gifted in teaching, she should be teaching. I like how "Rambler" puts it-lining ourselves up with God's will. At the same time, in my home, although I am the breadwinner and my husband stays home with the kids, decisions to be made are discussed together, but I know where his gifts lie, and I generally submit (yuck!) to his plan because he has a good track record! Again, am I listening to Paul, or am I aligning myself with God's will? I have peace, so I'm good with it.

There was apparently much fighting between the men. God wants us to forgive others as Jesus forgave us. However, sometimes we need to go to God and ask for the ability to forgive (sometimes more than once!).

Paul wanted to remind the teachers that Jesus came to save even the "tax collectors" and the others that the rest of society thought were not worth saving. It seems that the teachers in Ephesus were forming a clique of the people they thought were worthy of saving.

I think Paul is trying to show others that you may make mistakes, or be in the wrong, but we are forgiven and it's not too late to change your ways and follow Christ.

God sent Jesus to die for our sins, so suffering is implied in His life. We suffer because we are on earth; in Heaven we won't suffer. All creation isn't ALWAYS suffering, but some people sure do seem to have more than their share! Not sure of the "why", but God has a plan. "no one knows the day or time" when Jesus will return, so I don't expect a signal of the end. God's purpose for us on earth is the build the relationships He gives us, to use our gifts for His glory; I think those are the things to look forward to, until we go to Heaven.

I see this when I see a coworker dealing with a particularly difficult client and being polite and helpful nonetheless. I would like to see it more when I get impatient with the kids, and poetmom mentions a strategy that I try to employ-don't set myself up for failure! When we "consult" with God for our daily activities, we will more often be led by the Spirit.

No, we are not compelled to sin, but we do because we are weak sometimes. This topic has been of discussion at my home as my husband is frustrated with hearing in church every week what horrible sinners we are. I never paid much attention to that, because I know Jesus forgives me when I mess up, but now when I listen, I hear how many times I am called a miserable sinner! Not sure where that will lead us, but I keep knowing that I am saved by Christ.

Both the pilot light and the thermometer analogies are good! I don't think you can be a Christian without the Holy Spirit; they are a trinity. Indwelling is the fact that the Holy Spirit is always there (the pilot light) and fullness is when I choose to ignite the light and live my life by listening to the spirit.

To set our minds on the Spirit, we need to be with the spirit regularly, which means studying God's word. If I have a sense of peace with the choices I make, I feel I am following the Spirit. Hopefully it is deliberate that I choose that path, but if I practice it regularly, it can become a habit. Bad habits, however, are much easier to form! I believe I cannot consistently follow the Holy Spirit without the help of the Holy Spirit, and this takes my resolve to be with the spirit daily.

The weak link is that we can't be wholly obedient to the law all the time, we are just too weak to do that. Only Jesus could be perfectly obedient, and that is what saves us.

I think Paul is referring to himself both before and after his change, and also to all humankind. We all have times when following God is more difficult, just as we have times when we follow easily and have the peace that comes with that.

The law defines the sins and that is all it is meant to do. It is not meant to save us; Jesus is, and we have to agree to follow Him in order for that to happen. The problem isn't the law, it's us and our human weakness, but fortunately we have a savior, if we choose to follow Him.

I think he is referring to himself, but in general to all humanity. And even after we are followers of Christ, there are times we battle with sin, and don't do what we want to do. I sometimes think of my sins in "degrees"-this one isn't as bad as that one...in the end, if I'm not doing what God wants, I have sinned.