…Being “of good courage and confident hope”
What a terrific way to live life – being “of good courage and confident hope”. Is that how you are living your life? Paul did.
2 Corinthians 5:8 Amplified Bible
we are [as I was saying] of good courage and confident hope…
WEB version: ““We are courageous, I say”
Living with good courage and being confident with hope – comes as a result of living God’s way, staying within what God intended, living “God’s Normal“. Let’s look at this as the Apostle Paul laid it out.
Hey. Is my life out of kilter?
It is so easy to live life out of kilter, out of balance, living it “however we want to”. I’d have to confess, as they say, “Been there. Done that.” Paul explains how we can get into balance and live a more “normal Christian life”. Read 2 Corinthians 5:1-10.
Seeing as how God is our Maker, He sort of knows exactly how things go. You think? He made us! He gave us this life. As His privileged creations, it behooves us to learn what’s the best way to live it! His Word shows us “the best ways”, how to live this life well.
Related reading:
Good fruit
Bad fruit
Fighting the Good Fight
I am not motivated by fear of Hell and His punishment for sinning. God lets us know He will help us in time of need. He says, Do not fear – I will help you. In my thankfulness for His mercy and grace, I am motivated to live for Him — to please Him.
“it is our [constant] ambition
to be pleasing to Him.“
– Verse 9 of 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Are you ready, steady and able?
Excerpt: In our walk as believers, the biblical norm we aspire towards as Christians is an extremely high standard. In fact, it is an impossible norm – unless we are consistently filled with the Holy Spirit. Are you? The only way we can be who we truly are in Christ – is to be filled by His Spirit.
We are His work of art
We were made for good things to come out of our life.
Ephesians 2:10 Amplified Bible (AMP).
10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].
Swift AMP Paraphrase of Ephesians 2:10:
‘For we are His work of art, spiritually born again, reborn in Christ Jesus, ready to be used for good works which God Himself prepared specifically for us before we arrived on the scene, so that we would walk in those paths that were prearranged and made ready for us – to live the good life.’
FOR MORE:
Pleasure and bad behaviors we love to fall for
How then should we live now …believing the Rapture is just around the corner
This is natural for us – so put it on
Read the series on Every believer’s new life in Christ: Ephesians 1
- Growing into our natural new life in Christ
- Every believer’s new life in Christ [Part One]
- Explaining the Basic Christian Experience [Part Two]
Mold me as an instrument of use
Our Life As God Sees It …Ephesians 2:1-10
Ephesians 2:10 Amplified Bible (AMP).
10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].
Swift AMP Paraphrase:
‘For we are His work of art, spiritually born again, reborn in Christ Jesus, ready to be used for good works which God Himself prepared specifically for us before we arrived on the scene, so that we would walk in those paths that were prearranged and made ready for us – to live the good life.’
For who [limited by human wisdom] knows what is good for man during his lifetime, during the few days of his futile life? He spends them like a shadow [staying busy, but achieving nothing of lasting value]. For who can tell a man what will happen after him [to his work, his treasure, his plans] under the sun [after his life is over]?
For we [believers will be called to account and] must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be repaid for what has been done in the body, whether good or bad [that is, each will be held responsible for his actions, purposes, goals, motives—the use or misuse of his time, opportunities and abilities].
Ephesians 5:15-17 Amplified Bible (AMP)
15 Therefore see that you walk carefully [living life with honor, purpose, and courage; shunning those who tolerate and enable evil], not as the unwise, but as wise [sensible, intelligent, discerning people], 16 [b]making the very most of your time [on earth, recognizing and taking advantage of each opportunity and using it with wisdom and diligence], because the days are [filled with] evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish and thoughtless, but understand and firmly grasp what the will of the Lord is.
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