Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
A letter from Brother Gary
Greetings, Pastor John!
I don’t know how I got on this subject the other day, but here are some things I found that, according to the Bible, God’s people can do for themselves:
You can hold on to God, to avoid the wicked one.
1Jn. 5:18: “We know that everyone who is born of God does not sin, but he who was begotten of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him.”
You can purify yourself from sin.
1Jn. 3:3: “And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”
You can keep yourself unspotted from the world.
Jas. 1:27: “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.”
You can purge yourself from vessels of dishonor.
2Tim. 2:21: “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and fit for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”
You can refrain from entangling yourself with the affairs of the world.
2Tim. 2:4: “No man who goes to war entangles himself with the affairs of this life, so that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
You can love yourself (by loving your wife).
Eph. 5:28: “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loves his wife loves himself.”
You can rejoice in yourself and your works of God.
Gal. 6:4: “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”
You can deceive yourself by thinking you’re something you’re not.
Gal. 6:3: “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.”
You can edify yourself.
1Cor. 14:4: “The one who speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself . . .”
You can teach yourself and avoid hypocrisy.
Rom. 2:21: “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?”
You can study to show yourself approved.
2Tim. 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
You can withdraw yourself from corrupt men.
1Tim. 6:5: “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.”
You can keep yourself pure.
1Tim. 5:22: “Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins; keep thyself pure.”
You can take heed to yourself.
1Tim. 4:16: “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them; for in doing this, thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee.”
You can exercise yourself in godliness.
1Tim. 4:7: “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”
You can behave yourself.
1Tim. 3:15: “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the [assembly] of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”
You can consider yourself, to avoid temptation.
Gal. 6:1: “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.”
You can live so as not to have condemnation.
Rom. 14:22: “Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.”
You can give yourself to the things of God.
1Tim. 4:15: “Meditate upon these things; give yourself wholly to them, so that your profiting may appear to all.”
Of course, if we are doing these things for ourselves, it’s only because God made us that way - so He still gets the glory nevertheless. But why not work WITH Him!
Gary S.