Weekend Words

From Beside the Still Waters...

Who Are the People of God? - Read: 1 Peter 2

"Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God" - 1 Peter 2:10

In today's key verse, do the people of God include all who profess to follow Christ?  Simply being zealously involved in religious activity does not make one a Christian.  Who then are God's people?  Here are some descriptions that we find in Scripture.

The people of God have been born again.  They give evidence of it by being so transformed that they "walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4).  They turn away from sin and the ungodly world, are led by the Spirit of God, and have their focus on spiritual things.

The people of God accept the entire Bible as the inspired, infallible Word of God, to be believed and obeyed without reservation.  The Bible is their rule even when others are following "enlightened" thinkers.  They are fully convinced that God's Word will never change.  Living by faith, they are not overwhelmed by fear when things seem to spin out of control, but they have abiding peace and restful assurance that the secular world knows nothing of.

The people of God seek to follow Jesus' command to love - that we love one another, love our neighbor, and even love our enemies.  They show divine love by deeds of kindness, acts of compassion, and other practical ways.  God's people do not resort to physical force to gain what they want, whether it involves vengeful actions or political methods.

Have we surrendered our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ?  Are we living in the light of eternity and in readiness for our Lord's soon return?  If so, we can have the wonderful blessing of being assured that we are part of God's people.

Mark Kropf - Halsey, OR

The people of God are they ...

Who search the Scriptures and hasten to obey;

Who hear the Shepherd and follow Him all the way;

Who love the Lord and serve Him every day.

From Amish Peace... (I posted this back in 2021, but I thought it was worth revisiting)

Open Your Hands and Give

"Don't worry about these things, saying, "What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?"  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. (Matthew 6:31-31)

Recession has hit our country in recent years.  Friends have lost their homes.  Others have whittled down their savings.  Many are out of jobs.  But the Amish are a segment of society that has hardly been touched with financial trouble.  When the world around us uses advertising and promotion to urge consumers to buy more, the Amish raise their children to get by with just enough. "Waste not, want not" is a common saying.  Amish are consumers, too, but they consume in different ways.  They don't purchase products to make them look good or to bring comfort, ease, or beauty to their lives.  They purchase food, clothing, tools, or other supplies because they have a specific need.

The Amish live by common sense, and they foster contentment with what they have.  They also open their hands and give to those who are in need.  Giving to others as a top money management technique may seem foolish, but the Amish received this advice from the One who owns everything.  Jesus said, "Give and you will receive.  Your gift will return to you in full - pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap.  The amount you give will determine the amount you get back" (Luke 6:38).

If you want to live in peace, throw away your long shopping list and learn to live with less.  Do you want to be unruffled and content?  Cease focusing on what you don't have, and instead consider what you can give to someone who has less.

Those who don't believe that God is there - and that He cares for them - have reason to worry and fret.  But our heavenly Father not only knows our needs but also brings others into our lives to help meet them.  He also brings people in need into our lives because He knows we will be blessed when we open our hands to give.

Dear heavenly Father, thank you for all You've provided - in unexpected ways and through the care of others.  Show me someone who needs something I have to offer.  I open my hands today.

From In Green Pastures...

As Thy Days

There is in the Bible no promise of grace in advance of the need.  God does not say he will put strength into our arm for the battle while we are in quiet peace and the battle is yet far off.  When the conflict is at hand the strength will be given.  He does not open the gates for us, nor roll away the stones, until we have come up to them.  He did not divide the Jordan's waters while the people were yet in their camps, nor even as they began to march towards the river.  The wild stream continued to flow as the host moved down the banks, even until the feet of the priests had been dipped in the water.  This is the constant law of divine help.  It is not given in advance.  As we come up to the need the supply is ready, but not before.  Yet many Christians worry because they cannot see the way opened and the needs supplied far in advance of their steps.  Shall we not let God provide and have faith in Him?

"Keep thou my feet; I do not ask to see

The distance scene; one step enough for me."