Robert Lloyd Russell's Blog, page 58

God Is My… (Psalms), 17

~ God Is My Healer ~
Introduction  ~  Previously from July 16, 2017 through January 6, 2019 ALN posted a series of 60 posts of “Jesus is…,” and now we look exclusively at who “God is…” from the Book of Psalms.  While not a complete list these posts occur are in the same order they are in the Psalms. 
Passage  ~  “I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up,And have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried out to You,And You healed me. O Lord, You brought my soul up from the grave;You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit” (Psalm 30:1-3).
Comment  ~  Jesus is the Divine Physician who not only oversees the physical realities of life but more importantly resolves the spiritual needs of those humans who allow Him into their lives. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog. Be an insider!  Sign up for his author NEWSLETTER and receive occasional news and special offers.  His books have won national and international literary awards.  Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift.  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way.  You can easily unsubscribe at any time. 
NOTES: (1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page. (2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column. (3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website.  (4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/.

Myth, 53

~ There Are No Absolutes! ~
Introduction  ~  This has become a popular notion in “civilized societies” in recent decades.  The first thing to notice is the statement “there are not absolutes” is that it is stated as an absolute!  It’s truly amazing that this concept has become so widely accepted that a recent study found that two-thirds of Americans now believe that there is no absolute truth! 
Logic  ~  No serious scientist or engineer would say that there are no absolutes (i.e. gravity, or mathematical principles).  No intelligent human would seriously argue that each time you compute the same formula with the same data you get a different answer.  Even the liberal thinker, Sigmund Freud, stated: “it were really a matter of indifference what we believed, then we might just as well build our bridges of cardboard as of stone, or inject a tenth of a gramme of morphia into a patient instead of a hundredth, or take tear-gas as a narcotic instead of ether.”
Scripture  ~  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things” (Romans 1:18-23). 
“Let no one deceive himself.  If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.  For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.  For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their own craftiness’; and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile’” (1 Corinthians 3:18-20).
Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  He did not say one of the ways, a truth or a life, but the way, the truth and the life.  The Apostle Peter proclaimed: “It is by the name of Jesus Christ... Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:10,12).
Closing Comment  ~  If you score a touchdown you feel great.  But what if you ran the wrong way and scored for the wrong team?  Are you doing things God’s way or Satan’s way?  Are you sure?  If, when life is over, you find you were on the wrong end of the field the consequences will be enormous.  Maybe, just maybe, it is wise to listen to what your Creator says about eternal matters. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog. Be an insider!  Sign up for his author NEWSLETTER and receive occasional news and special offers.  His books have won national and international literary awards.  Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift.  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way.  You can easily unsubscribe at any time. 
NOTES: (1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page. (2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column. (3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website.  (4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/.

Fear God, 177

~ The Early Church Feared God ~
God does not want His children living in fear.  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).  However, God does want His children to have a proper respect and reverence for Him.  We are told in many places in Scripture to “ fear God .”  
This Week’s Passage  ~  “And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’  Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need” (Acts 2:40-45).
Fearing God Results in Salvation  ~  “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).  “A wise person fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16).  This does not mean the Christian is to live a fearful life—but a life which reverences God and seeks to do His will. 
Fearing God Results in Fearlessness  ~  “The Lordis my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lordis the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).  The answer is: only God.  With the gift of salvation comes responsibility.
Fearing God Results in Witnessing  ~  “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog. Be an insider!  Sign up for his author NEWSLETTER and receive occasional news and special offers.  His books have won national and international literary awards.  Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift.  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way.  You can easily unsubscribe at any time. 
NOTES: (1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page. (2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column. (3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website.  (4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/.

Eternal Blessings

~ Christians Are Blessed Throughout Eternity ~
Purchased With An Eternal Redemption  ~  “Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.  Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:11-12). 
Saved With An Eternal Salvation  ~  “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.  And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him” (Hebrews 5:8-9). 
Possession Of Eternal Life  ~  Jesus said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).  
Called To An Eternal Glory  ~  “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever.  Amen” (1 Peter 5:10-11). 
Waiting For An Eternal Home  ~  “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (2 Corinthians 5:1).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog. Be an insider!  Sign up for his author NEWSLETTER and receive occasional news and special offers.  His books have won national and international literary awards.  Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift.  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way.  You can easily unsubscribe at any time. 
NOTES: (1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page. (2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column. (3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website.  (4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/.

The Law: Questions, 25of25

~ Summary of The Law ~
The Big Picture  ~  The entire Bible is about Jesus Christ—The Messiah.  In the Old Testament God’s people looked forward in faith to the coming Messiah.  In the New Testament God’s people look both back to The Messiah’s coming, His life, His death, and most importantly His resurrection.  His believers today look forward in faith to the return of Jesus Christ to take His people home to be with Him forever.   
The Role of The Law Today  ~  The book of Hebrews gives many comparisons to what it is like to live under The Law versus being guided by the grace of God (post Messiah’s life on earth).  Living under grace is a fulfillment of many Old Testament passages such as, “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your Law is within my heart” (Psalm 40:8).  Another key passage to consider is, “Do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:13-14). 
The Law Fulfilled by Christ  ~  “The righteous requirement of the law” (Romans 8:4) was fulfilled by the only Righteous One—Jesus Christ.  He fulfilled the Ten Commandments, and all the moral law, by living a perfect, sinless life in obedience to His Father.  “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:4).  Jesus said: “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).  Jesus Christ is the only One who has lived up to the requirements of the Law. 
The Law and The Christian  ~  The Christian is no longer under The Law.  “For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God” (Galatians 2:19).  “Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another—to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God.  For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.  But now we have been delivered from the law, having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the letter” (Romans 7:4-6).
The Christian’s Laws  ~  While the Mosaic Law is no longer in force for today’s believer they are to strive to keep several laws because of their response to God’s love for them.  The Law of Liberty—”He who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James
The Royal Law—“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ you do well” (James 2:8).
The Law of Christ—The Apostle Paul put it this way: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). 
The Law of the Spirit of Christ—“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1-4).  The Righteousness of The Law—Notice the last part of the above passage.  Jesus came to fulfill The Law (Matthew 5:17) and now we are to fulfill the law: “…that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:4).
The Law Fulfilled Today  ~  While on earth Jesus told His disciples that we have really one principle, or law, to keep: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).  Further confirmation is seen in such passages as: “Jesus said to him, ‘“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”  This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets’” (Matthew 22:37-40).  “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’” (Galatians 5:14).  “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.  For the commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘You shall not covet,’ and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10). 
The Bottom Line  ~  “Under the old covenant, the priest stood and ministered before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which could never take away sins.  But our High Priest [Jesus Christ—The Messiah] offered Himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time.  …  For by that one offering He forever made perfect those who are being made holy.  And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so.  For He says, ‘This is the new covenant I will make with My people on that day, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.’  Then He says, ‘I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.’  And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices” (Hebrews 10:11-18 NLT).
The Mosaic Law could not be fulfilled because it depended on man’s ability.  Today, in the time of great grace, we can more fully live up to God’s principles and laws because of the indwelling Spirit of God!  God’s laws are now written in our hearts.  The result is that consistent effort to obey God’s laws is an outflowing of our response to God’s love for us which can, and should be, a joy filled lifestyle.  “You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:16-17). 
Reference  ~  You may be interested in a previous “Abundant Life Now” 14 post series entitled “10 Commandments Today” (from March 1 to June 28, 2018).  “Abundant Life Now” also posted a 12 post series entitled “Law vs. Grace” (from January 22 to December 24, 2013).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog. Be an insider!  Sign up for his author NEWSLETTER and receive occasional news and special offers.  His books have won national and international literary awards.  Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift.  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way.  You can easily unsubscribe at any time. 
NOTES: (1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page. (2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column. (3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website.  (4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/.

O.T. Shepherds, 6of6

~ Summary Of 5 Old Testament Shepherds ~
Series Prologue  ~  There are at least five Old Testament shepherds who were clear “types” of Jesus Christ—our shepherd.  A typeis like a faint image or shadow of the true item.  In each of these cases we can see parallels to our Great Shepherd. 
Summary Review  ~  In this series we have looked at five Old Testament shepherds:
First we saw Abel—a sacrificing shepherd who gave his life and shed his blood at the hands of his own brother.
Second we looked at Jacob—a laboring shepherd, who left his home fleeing from his angry brother and dwelt in a far country.
In Joseph—an exalted shepherd we found that he too was rejected by his own brethren, yet he would become the savior of mankind on earth at that time.
We found in Moses—a delivering shepherd, under God’s direction delivering his people from their enemies.
Finally, we found in David—a royal, reigning shepherd.
Hints Of The Coming Messiah  ~  In each of these shepherds we mentioned a few of the many parallels between them and our Shepherd—King, Jesus Christ—The Messiah.  Some examples include:
Jesus, the Christ, was rejected by His own the first time He came to earth.
He was rejected by His own people.
He was exiled to a distant country.
While rejected He sought out a Gentile bride—the true Church.
Jesus Christ—The Messiah will one day be accepted by His own people (Israel).
In the future He will set up His glorious millennial kingdom. 
Closing Comment  ~  If you have appreciated this series on Old Testament shepherds you may want to look at the Abundant Life Now post of October 19, 2010 entitled: Christ Our Shepherd (Biblical Trilogy – He Satisfies All Our Needs).  
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog. Be an insider!  Sign up for his author NEWSLETTER and receive occasional news and special offers.  His books have won national and international literary awards.  Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift.  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way.  You can easily unsubscribe at any time. 
NOTES: (1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page. (2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column. (3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website.  (4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/.

Question – Jesus, 46

~ Regarding Hearing ~
Introduction ~  This series is about questions involving Jesus.  Some were asked by individuals involved with Jesus Christ while He walked on earth.  Others are questions that Jesus Christ asked others.  We will look at questions on about 130 topics (some may split into two or more posts).  Even so, it is far from an exhaustive list. 
Scripture  ~  “But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, ‘Why do you reason because you have no bread?  Do you not yet perceive nor understand?  Is your heart still hardened?  Having eyes, do you not see?  And having ears, do you not hear?  And do you not remember?  When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?’  They said to Him, ‘Twelve.’  ‘Also, when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of fragments did you take up?’  And they said, ‘Seven.’  So He said to them, ‘How is it you do not understand?’” (Mark 8:17-21).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog. Be an insider!  Sign up for his author NEWSLETTER and receive occasional news and special offers.  His books have won national and international literary awards.  Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift.  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way.  You can easily unsubscribe at any time. 
NOTES: (1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page. (2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column. (3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website.  (4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/.

Father’s Day 2020

~ May This Be True of Each Father! ~
“I, Paul, have been sent on special assignment by Christ as part of God’s master plan.  Together with my friend Timothy, I greet the Christians and stalwart followers of Christ who live in Colosse.  May everything good from God our Father be yours!  Our prayers for you are always spilling over into thanksgivings.  We can’t quit thanking God our Father and Jesus our Messiah for you!  We keep getting reports on your steady faith in Christ, our Jesus, and the love you continuously extend to all Christians.  The lines of purpose in your lives never grow slack, tightly tied as they are to your future in heaven, kept taut by hope” (Colossians 1:1-5, The Message).
“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1, njkv).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog. Be an insider!  Sign up for his author NEWSLETTER and receive occasional news and special offers.  His books have won national and international literary awards.  Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift.  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way.  You can easily unsubscribe at any time. 
NOTES: (1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page. (2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column. (3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website.  (4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/.

Myth, 52

~ Sincerity Is What Counts ~
Assumption  ~  If you are sincere in your worship of God, regardless of which God or religion, you will end up pleasing God and going to heaven. 
Logic  ~  You don’t apply this kind of thinking to other areas of life.  First Example: If you were sincerely taking a test in school and all your answers were wrong—you wouldn’t pass the test.  Second Example: If you were on a factory line and sincerely assembling your product in the wrong way, the product would fail.  Third Example: If as a baseball player you swing sincerely at a bad pitch and strike out you are still out!  Fourth Example: If as a basketball player you score what you think is the winning basket only to find out you got turned around and scored at the wrong end of the floor—you wouldn’t win the game!
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (known as “The Prince of Preachers”) once put it this way: “If you sincerely drink poison, I will kill you!  If you sincerely cut your throat, you will die.  If you sincerely believe a lie, you will suffer the consequences.  You must not only be sincere, but you must be right.”
Scripture  ~  God the Father stated: “You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:3).  The Son of God said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6b).
Closing Comment  ~  Sincerity of belief does matter.  But what you believe in is even more important!  What is the object of your faith?  Are you doing things God’s way or Satan’s way?  Are you sure?  If, when life is over, you find you were in trusting wrong things the consequences will be enormous.  Maybe, just maybe, it is wise to listen to what your Creator says about eternal matters. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog. Be an insider!  Sign up for his author NEWSLETTER and receive occasional news and special offers.  His books have won national and international literary awards.  Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift.  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way.  You can easily unsubscribe at any time. 
NOTES: (1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page. (2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column. (3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website.  (4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/.

Fear God, 176

~ Pilate Feared God ~
God does not want His children living in fear.  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).  However, God does want His children to have a proper respect and reverence for Him.  We are told in many places in Scripture to “ fear God .”  
This Week’s Passage  ~  “Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him!’  Pilate said to them, ‘You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.’  The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.’  Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, ‘Where are You from?’  But Jesus gave him no answer.  Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?’  Jesus answered, ‘You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above.  Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.’  From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, ‘If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend.  Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar’” (John 19:6-12).
Fearing God Results in Salvation  ~  “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).  “A wise person fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16).  This does not mean the Christian is to live a fearful life—but a life which reverences God and seeks to do His will. 
Fearing God Results in Fearlessness  ~  “The Lordis my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lordis the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).  The answer is: only God.  With the gift of salvation comes responsibility.
Fearing God Results in Witnessing  ~  “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog. Be an insider!  Sign up for his author NEWSLETTER and receive occasional news and special offers.  His books have won national and international literary awards.  Subscribe today and receive a welcome gift.  Your email will never be sold, given, or used in any other way.  You can easily unsubscribe at any time.  NOTES: (1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page. (2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column. (3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website.  (4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/.