Posts Tagged ‘attention’

Whom You Will Serve

 

Today, the reply is on what a person must do in order to serve divinity. All Christian believers are to serve GOD by being Christ-like. All are to display and make present the character, image, and substance of Jesus Christ within their lifestyle and daily routines. Money is a man-made tool for use within the world system like philosophy, politics, science, and technology. By centering their intent and purpose on human survival through the use of money and other man-made devices, many have become idolaters and those who bestow their attention, thoughts, time, and worship on false gods. At best, the things of the world will continue the existence of the world for a brief time, and can not replace the eternal salvation provided through Jesus Christ. It is written: Luke 12: 13-21, King James Version (KJV): 13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. 14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you? 15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a mans life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. 16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: 17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? 18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? 21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God. The fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and Spirituality public forum who uses the ID “Breakthrough” (Level 6 with 15,758 points, a member since June 29, 2013) posted the following:

 

The bible says you cannot serve both money and God – so how do you serve God?

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW: And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done. Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. (Revelation 22: 1-7, King James Version, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Our Displays of Divinity (06/19/2019); Willingness To Forgive Others? (05/24/2019); Giving To The Homeless (03/13/2019); Known By His Fruit (11/04/2018); Duties of a Christian? (03/13/2018); Being A Good Samaritan (02/18/2018); Knowing the Invisible GOD (09/17/2017); What Does Divinity Want? (03/13/2017)

 

Breakthrough”, in the same way the operations of sin within created beings and living creatures requires that their awareness and self-will direct their desire and expression to evil and wickedness, many Christian believers would agree, that to serve GOD requires that a person direct their awareness and self-will (willpower) to acknowledging divine law and the holy writings, to practicing sacrifice and unselfishness, and to continuing in a healthy relationship with divinity through communication, exchange, and interaction within a community of believers. To serve is to carry out and perform the will of another without having to be coerced; to maintain alertness and wait for their commands without complaining or indulging distractions; and to display comfort, encouragement, forgiveness, and mercy in judgment. Consider again the following that uses language from the Bible:

1. Joshua 24: 14-16, King James Version (KJV): 14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. 15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. 16 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;

2. Joshua 24: 19-24, KJV: 19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. 20 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. 21 And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD. 22 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. 23 Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel. 24 And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.

3. Romans 6: 16-23, KJV: 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. 21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, 4. Colossians 3: 5-17, KJV: 5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.

 

Image downloaded 1:57 PM, September 03, 2019 @ https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/636935843_1280x981.jpg

 

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THE BLACK PHOENIX

Washington, DC

 

Celebrity, fame, popularity, showing-off, and vainglory come into view, today, as I respond to a writer using the ID “Anonymous” (no other information shared) who posted the following at “Yahoo! Answers UK & Ireland”:

 

Jesus got a lot of attention from the crowds, but did he enjoy it?

did he crave it in a way like a celebrity would?

I will update this soon, to say more.

Update: Would it be fair to say he was modest about it.

He wanted to be away from the crowds at times, but they found him and he relented, to help them. It wasn’t some ego trip for him.

Update 2: Anyway, that is kind of why I think that he wouldn’t want the attention and hype at Christmas time. And not all of it is honorable, but excessive.

 

THE GOLDEN ARROW:  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth:  he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.  He was taken from prison and from judgment:  and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief:  when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied:  by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death:  and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.  (Isaiah 53:  6-12, KJV)

 

THE DOUBLE DAGGER:   Prayer in Public? (02/24/2015); A “Good” Verse? (05/09/2014); What GOD Demands (05/10/2014); The Body of Moses (05/11/2014); Jesus, A Party Animal? (05/03/2013); Jesus Lives! (05/04/2013); Christian Modesty (10/15/2012); The Meek Will Inherit (10/16/2012)

 

“Anonymous”, the holy writings are intended to reveal divine consciousness of life throughout the universe; the correct attitudes, behaviors and operations for exchange and interaction with Deity (e.g., confession, obedience, praise, prayer, sacrifice, and sanctification); and the peculiar elements that establish fruitful personal relationship to the Creator (such as acknowledgment, discernment, obedience, mercy, reverence, and worship).   The priority is to demonstrate and expose the character, makeup, nature, and eternal purposes of Divinity to created beings and living creatures using events that appear within thousands of lives, over the course of thousands of years.  With this in view, there is no detailed discussion of divine temporal feelings, sentiments, material and social expectations, or desires and lusts.  Believers are to become vessels who contain the same spirit that resided within Jesus Christ, and that he displayed when discharging the grave duty and privilege of a consecrated minister, and heir to Deity.  Consider again the following:

(1.)  Jesus appeared in order to affirm, complete and fulfill divine judgments, proclamations, promises, and prophecies.  With John the Baptist, Jesus restored the office of prophet that had been denied to Israel for more than 400 years.  Thus, the Anointed One also appears as a circuit-rider, a nomad, and a wanderer (like Abraham, Moses, Isaiah and David), while also the elder and head over a school-of-the-prophets and the sons-of-the-prophets through his apostles and disciples (like Samuel, Elijah and Elisha).

(2.)  Isaiah 42:  1-3, King James Version (KJV):  1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him:  he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.  2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.  3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench:  he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

(3.)  Isaiah 53:  1-5, KJV:  1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?  2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground:  he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.  3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief:  and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:  yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:  the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

(4.)  John 7:  16-18, KJV:  16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.  17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.  18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory:  but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

(5.)  Matthew 6:  1-2, KJV:  6 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them:  otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.  2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

There is far more to be said, correctly understood, and internalized as aspects of the Spirit from GOD.  (For example, (6.)  Hebrews 12:  1-4, KJV:  1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.  4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.)  Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful.  Be it unto you according to your faith and spiritual maturity.

THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC