~~~~~ Bible Verses ~~~~~~
Luke 6:43 For there is no good tree that produces corrupt
fruit, nor again a corrupt tree that produces good fruit. (44)
For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not
collect figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a
thornbush.
~~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~~
In order to practice the principles described in [Luke] 6:17-
49, we need the divine life. Life is the basic factor for any
kind of being, doing, or working. If we do not have a certain
kind of life, we cannot have that kind of being; neither can
we have a certain behavior or accomplish a certain work. For
example, an apple tree has an apple-tree life. In order for a
tree to be an apple tree, it must have the life of an apple
tree. Likewise, in order for an animal to be a monkey, it must
have the life of a monkey. The crucial point here is that if
we would have a certain being and behave in a certain way, we
must have a certain kind of life. Life is the basic factor of
our being, behavior, and work.
The Man-Savior has the kind of life described in chapter six
of the Gospel of Luke. Before His death and resurrection, He
Himself lived such a life. But through His resurrection He has
become the life-giving Spirit, and now He lives in us. His
desire is to live in us the same kind of life He lived on
earth. In Philippians 1:21 Paul speaks of living Christ. When
Christ, the God-man, was on earth, He lived a life that was
according to the highest standard of morality. Now Christ
lives in us so that we may live Him. This highest standard of
morality is now a Person living in us and making it possible
for us to live Christ.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(c) 2007 Living Stream Ministry. Bible verses are taken from
the Recovery Version of the Bible (RcV) and Words of Ministry,
from Witness Lee, Life-study of Luke, pp. 129-130. Both are
published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. (Repeat
10/13/01)
Please visit us at www.emanna.com
Comments to: comment@emanna.com.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Being Occupied and Having No Time for God
Being Occupied and Having No Time for God
~~~~ Bible Verses ~~~~
Please read Luke 5:1-11
Luke 5:11 And when they had brought the boats to the land,
they left all and followed Him.
~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~
The calling of the first four disciples was a calling that
attracted the occupied ones. Human beings do not realize how
much they are fallen not only in sin but also in their
occupation. Our occupation is our business or means of
employment, that is, our means of making a living. Today
fallen human beings are occupied by their way of making their
living. We may say that fallen human beings are occupied by
their occupation.
Of course, it is necessary for us to work. Paul charged the
believers to work for a living (2 Thes. 3:10-12). We should
not rely on others to provide a living for us. We need to have
a means of employment. However, the problem is that our
occupation occupies us and keeps us from God.
Human beings were created by God for Himself, but they are
occupied and kept from Him by the matter of making a living.
Nothing takes people away from God as much as their occupation.
Consider today's world. Who is not occupied by his job or by
the education in preparation for work? Although most people
are busy, hardly anyone is busy with God. Instead, virtually
everyone is occupied by something in place of God. The first
disciples were called and attracted by the Lord not from their
sinful life, but from their occupation. In particular, Peter,
Andrew, James, and John were occupied with fishing.
Those who are occupied with making a living usually give
excuses when invited to hear the gospel or to attend a meeting.
If you invite such a one to hear the gospel, he may say that
he does not have the time. If you invite an occupied person to
attend the meeting of the church, he may say that he is too
busy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(c) 2007 Living Stream Ministry. Bible verses are taken from
the Recovery Version of the Bible (RcV) and Words of Ministry,
from Witness Lee, Life-study of Luke, pp. 102-103. Both are
published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. (Repeat
9/28/01)
Please visit us at www.emanna.com
Comments to: comment@emanna.com.
~~~~ Bible Verses ~~~~
Please read Luke 5:1-11
Luke 5:11 And when they had brought the boats to the land,
they left all and followed Him.
~~~~ Words of Ministry ~~~~
The calling of the first four disciples was a calling that
attracted the occupied ones. Human beings do not realize how
much they are fallen not only in sin but also in their
occupation. Our occupation is our business or means of
employment, that is, our means of making a living. Today
fallen human beings are occupied by their way of making their
living. We may say that fallen human beings are occupied by
their occupation.
Of course, it is necessary for us to work. Paul charged the
believers to work for a living (2 Thes. 3:10-12). We should
not rely on others to provide a living for us. We need to have
a means of employment. However, the problem is that our
occupation occupies us and keeps us from God.
Human beings were created by God for Himself, but they are
occupied and kept from Him by the matter of making a living.
Nothing takes people away from God as much as their occupation.
Consider today's world. Who is not occupied by his job or by
the education in preparation for work? Although most people
are busy, hardly anyone is busy with God. Instead, virtually
everyone is occupied by something in place of God. The first
disciples were called and attracted by the Lord not from their
sinful life, but from their occupation. In particular, Peter,
Andrew, James, and John were occupied with fishing.
Those who are occupied with making a living usually give
excuses when invited to hear the gospel or to attend a meeting.
If you invite such a one to hear the gospel, he may say that
he does not have the time. If you invite an occupied person to
attend the meeting of the church, he may say that he is too
busy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(c) 2007 Living Stream Ministry. Bible verses are taken from
the Recovery Version of the Bible (RcV) and Words of Ministry,
from Witness Lee, Life-study of Luke, pp. 102-103. Both are
published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, CA. (Repeat
9/28/01)
Please visit us at www.emanna.com
Comments to: comment@emanna.com.
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