Hold On! For Dear Life

Luke 8:15
The Message (MSG)
 15″But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest.

Those who hold on to God’s promises no matter what!  They seize the word….sticking with it til there is a harvest.  I am ever convinced that nothing good and lasting happens by accident.   The Lord is very intentional and precise in His workings.  Just a look at creation and it’s order is evidence of this. How much more the pinnacle of His creation….Us!  As I was considering this verse the saying, Carpe Diem, came to mind. 

Carpe Diem! 

Seize the day, trusting as little as possible in the future.

‘Carpe’ translates literally as ‘pluck’, with particular reference to the picking of fruit, so a more accurate rendition is ‘enjoy the day, pluck the day when it is ripe’. The extended version of the phrase ‘carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero’ translates as ‘Pluck the day, trusting as little as possible in the future’. 

If we can approach each day with this attitude and mindset just imagine the difference we would make in this world! Changing the way we think and perceive life is so important.  I believe it so crucial to the abundant life that Jesus speaks of in John 10:10. 

I think it key to note that all of life has fruit for us. Many times the fruit is hidden in dark and lonely places. Buried in pain and suffering – like gold… It must be mined- sought after. 
 
I close with some additional verses and a Streams In The Desert devotional.
  Intentionally,  Jonathan 

James 1:12 Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

Psalm 90: 12  Oh! Teach us to live well!  Teach us to live wisely and well! 
   
Ephesians 5:15-16
Be Filled With the Spirit of God

15 So be careful how you live. Live as men who are wise and not foolish. 16 Make the best use of your time. These are sinful days.

Hebrews 12:  2 Let us keep looking to Jesus. Our faith comes from Him and He is the One Who makes it perfect. He did not give up when He had to suffer shame and die on a cross. He knew of the joy that would be His later. Now He is sitting at the right side of God.

Colossians 3:
16-17 Let Christ’s teaching live in your hearts, making you rich in the true wisdom. Teach and help one another along the right road with your psalms and hymns and Christian songs, singing God’s praises with joyful hearts. And whatever you may have to do, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, thanking God the Father through him.

Steady in Our Walk

 “Stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).
 
In taking Christ in any new relationship, we must first have sufficient intellectual light to satisfy our mind that we are entitled to stand in this relationship. The shadow of a question here will wreck our confidence. Then, having seen this, we must make the venture, the committal, the choice, and take the place just as definitely as the tree is planted in the soil, or the bride gives herself away at the marriage altar. It must be once for all, without reserve, without recall.
 
***
 
Then there is a season of establishing, settling and testing, during which we must “stay put” until the new relationship gets so fixed as to become a permanent habit. It is just the same as when the surgeon sets the broken arm. He puts it in splints to keep it from vibration. So God has His spiritual splints that He wants to put upon His children and keep them quiet and unmoved until they pass the first stage of faith. It is not always easy work for us, “but the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Jesus Christ, after that ye have suffered awhile, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” –A. B. Simpson
 
***
 
There is a natural law in sin and sickness; and if we just let ourselves go and sink into the trend of circumstances, we shall go down and sink under the power of the tempter. But there is another law of spiritual life and of physical life in Christ Jesus to which we can rise, and through which we can counterpoise and overcome the other law that bears us down.
 
But to do this requires real spiritual energy and fixed purpose and a settled posture and habit of faith. It is just the same as when we use the power in our factory. We must turn on the belt and keep it on. The power is there, but we must keep the connection; and while we do so, the higher power will work and all the machinery will be in operation.
 
There is a spiritual law of choosing, believing, abiding, and holding steady in our walk with God, which is essential to the working of the Holy Ghost either in our sanctification or healing.  –Days of Heaven upon Earth

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