The Bible NETWork ~ Impacting the World for Christ one post at a time!

Overcomer thanks, Marv ditto on the testimony, I had found myself in a simular situation years ago and finding myself lost until the Lord opened my eyes to his truth. I don't know if I can add anything to the word cost, the only thing that comes to mind is, as the old hymn goes "He paid it all" for humanity's sake, the one for the many. It is ashame that most of humanity will not reach out and recieve the free gift of recouncilation back to the father. But that is is Job put upon us, his bond servants to proclaim the cost that changed the world,

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Kola,

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

When considering the cost (for me) I must also consider the alternative , that being to not serve him..

So what are my options?

A. Serve the one true God , patiently endure (temporary) sufferings, hardships , trials and sufferings.(attacks from the enemy. Just as my Lord, My King and My Savior Jesus Christ did..and spend enternity in Heaven with him and my brothers in Christ.

B. Refuse to serve the one true God , and (maybe) have some material blessings, but still endure hardship, sufferings ,trials and enternal seperation from my Father? which entails an eternity in the lake of fire, where there will be wheeping and gnashing of teeth.

I choose option A, for even Jesus himself struggled with the trials and sufferings of this world, he recieved help from Simon to carry the cross, and whilst praying he asked the father;

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

DCLJoy:

When I ask WHY, those are the words that strike deep in my heart: God saw it necessary.

God has predestined weakness, powerlessness and helplessness in my life for a reason: He saw it necessary. "But He said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9 Net

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Martin Luther, 475 years ago, was asked, "How do we love and serve God? How do we love and serve our neighbors?" and Luther answered, "In commune per vocatione." We love and serve God, we love and serve our neighbors, in community, through vocation. And let it be so with us.

Chowie

how precious those words are .... and always have been to me.

How grateful I am that Paul had to explain himself to the Corinthians, and so recorded these precious words. They have sustained me also when God seemed far away, and my weakness only too apparent.

These are the words I pray to Him, this is the promise I claim.

blessed be His Name

Dinah

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HI FaithtoFaith.
I totally agree. We are individuals. Some more in money, some more in health, some more is life's success, etc. We are multi-faceted individually and each of us needs an individual fine tune. Well in my case a course tune. ( I am joking because some of these testimonies here have left me feeling humble- and spoilt.)

The other consideration is this. We have different work. Now Paul was given much insight, to aid him in his work. Therefore to balance him above and beyond an average set of trials he was given a larger counterbalance, ie a thorn in the flesh. God reveals to us that which is necessary for our work in the church, and like Paul, if that work requires greater revelation then that needs an individual and possibly greater counterbalance. God aims to save us for eternal life. It is amazing that we can't accept these greater gifts in humility, but need balancing. How weak we are.

another point, Great testimony Mike. There is another thread around here somewhere and a person was asking about the relevance of scripture and God talking to us. That would be a great place to post your testimony Mike.
walk in love
edwinG