Deprecated: Return type of WP_Theme::offsetExists($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetExists(mixed $offset): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php on line 554

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Theme::offsetGet($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php on line 595

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Theme::offsetSet($offset, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php on line 535

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Theme::offsetUnset($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/class-wp-theme.php on line 544

Deprecated: Return type of WP_REST_Request::offsetExists($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetExists(mixed $offset): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php on line 960

Deprecated: Return type of WP_REST_Request::offsetGet($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php on line 980

Deprecated: Return type of WP_REST_Request::offsetSet($offset, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php on line 992

Deprecated: Return type of WP_REST_Request::offsetUnset($offset) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/rest-api/class-wp-rest-request.php on line 1003

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::current() should either be compatible with Iterator::current(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 151

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::next() should either be compatible with Iterator::next(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 175

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::key() should either be compatible with Iterator::key(): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 164

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::valid() should either be compatible with Iterator::valid(): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 186

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::rewind() should either be compatible with Iterator::rewind(): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 138

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::offsetExists($index) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetExists(mixed $offset): bool, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 75

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::offsetGet($index) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetGet(mixed $offset): mixed, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 89

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::offsetSet($index, $value) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetSet(mixed $offset, mixed $value): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 110

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::offsetUnset($index) should either be compatible with ArrayAccess::offsetUnset(mixed $offset): void, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 127

Deprecated: Return type of WP_Block_List::count() should either be compatible with Countable::count(): int, or the #[\ReturnTypeWillChange] attribute should be used to temporarily suppress the notice in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/class-wp-block-list.php on line 199

Deprecated: DateTime::__construct(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($datetime) of type string is deprecated in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/script-loader.php on line 348
Monday’s Blog: Blessed Are The Meek (+ Giveaway Winners Announced!) | Amanda Beth

Monday’s Blog: Blessed Are The Meek (+ Giveaway Winners Announced!)

I want to thank everyone who entered the book giveaways last week! It was a great turnout! We had over 100 comments posted! Thank you for all your wonderful messages.

I want to thank my wonderful friends who graciously shared their inspiring books with us. Thank you for celebrating my one year anniversary of sharing God’s Truths!

My kids wrote down all the names of those who commented on each blog and put them in six separate bowls, just so you know the winners were randomly selected.

Here are the winners:

Monday’s winner is: LUTHER STAPLETON – My book “You Can Have a Happy Family” and Warren Baldwin’s book “Roaring Lions, Cracking Rocks, and Other Gems from Proverbs”

Tuesday’s winner is: JAN BALSAMO – Chuck Balsamo’s book “Make Me A Legend” (What a coincidence! They’re not even related!)

Wednesday’s winner is: L. SHUMPERT – Penny Zeller’s book “Hailee”

Thursday’s winner is: BRANDY HATCHER – Dr. Gary & Norma Smalley’s book “4 Days to a Forever Marriage”

Friday’s winner is: CHERYL COPE – Deborah Bateman’s E-book “The Book of Ruth A Story of Love and Redemption”

Saturday’s winner is: KIMI MEADOR – Dave Moore’s book “The Father’s Love”

 

Congratulations to all the winners! If you didn’t win and would like to purchase these great books, click on the titles above. You’ll not only be blessed by the books, but you’ll also be blessing the authors!

Winners: If you did not leave an email address on the blog, please contact me with your mailing address asap to: authoramandabeth@gmail.com.

Thanks for entering!

 

Monday’s Blog: Blessed Are the Meek

I started a series on the Beatitudes before the book giveaways. If you would like to read the first two messages in this series click here. This week we move on to Matthew 5:5: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

What does it mean to be meek? Strong’s concordance defines meek in this verse as mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit. People often view meek as weak-willed, someone you can easily manipulate. Yet true meekness isn’t weak at all. It is power under control.

Jesus is our example of meek. He was kind and gentle, but yet forceful when He needed to be. He was gentle toward the lost—those who didn’t know God, but harsh toward the Pharisees—those who claimed to know God but didn’t have a relationship with Him.

I think we too often do the opposite. We are harsh toward the world, but we close our eyes to the sins within the body of Christ. As a result, we push the world away by our judgment, and ruin our testimony by our hypocrisy.

The Body of Christ

Paul wrote: “I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. ‘Expel the wicked man from among you’” (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).

Earlier in verse 6, Paul wrote, “Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough?”

Closing our eyes to the sins within the church contaminates the body of Christ, and hinders us from reaching the world. This is why Satan endeavors to lure us into sin. He can’t take our salvation, but he can ruin our testimony and hinder the Holy Spirit from using us to impact the world.

Does this mean we start looking at our brothers and sisters in Christ through a magnifying glass, expelling them as soon as they fall?

No. Jesus said to first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye (Matthew 7:5).

We first need to work with God in the areas that hinder our own testimony. As we allow God to sanctify us, and draw us closer to Him, He will lead us to confront and help our brothers and sisters who are caught in sin.

When it’s time to confront someone, we need to do it in meekness and love so we don’t also fall into sin. Paul states in Galatians 6:1, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”

As Christians, we especially need to set high standards for those in leadership positions because those of us who teach will be judged more strictly (James 3:1). If you run a ministry, you need to confront your leaders if the Holy Spirit is showing you they are in sin. Don’t turn a blind eye, because you’ll only be inviting the enemy in to destroy your ministry and affect those you are teaching.

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

—1 Timothy 4:15-16

As we follow God’s leadership and set high standards within the body of Christ, according to the Bible, God can use us to powerfully impact the world.

If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work. Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

—2 Timothy 2:21-22

 Reaching the World

I think sometimes we get too comfortable in the church, being around other believers, that we forget we are called to reach the world.

When I first started following Christ, I attended a National Day of Prayer ceremony. I had never been to a prayer ceremony before. I was nervous to go alone, but eager to meet and fellowship with other believers.

There were probably around thirty or forty people who attended the ceremony. When the time came to pray, the leader asked everyone to break off in small groups. I turned to join the people on my right, but they turned away and made a circle with their friends. I turned to join the people on my left, but they also turned away and made a circle with their friends. I looked around to find someone to pray with, but everyone else had formed groups as well.  The event went on for awhile, but no one ever acknowledge me standing alone.

I remember thinking I hope I never get so comfortable with my Christian walk that I don’t notice the people around me. If I hadn’t already accepted Christ and tasted the Lord’s goodness, I might have left that meeting that day not wanting to be part of the Christian community.

I am sad to admit this, but through the years as I became comfortable in my Christian walk I caught myself several times doing the same thing.

Chuck Balsamo wrote in his book Make Me A Legend:

“Whenever our Christian maturity becomes a hindrance to the Great Commission of Jesus, then our apparent progress is really no progress at all. We should care more about broken people as we climb, not less. Real Christian maturity is about loving, serving, and sacrificing, not about strutting through our world with a golden crown.”

Jesus didn’t ignore the broken and lost. He didn’t wait for them to come to Him for help. He sought them. He paid careful attention to the needs around Him. His life wasn’t consumed with His personal agendas. His life was focused on God, and He was ready to act the moment the Holy Spirit showed Him a need.

Jesus was truly meek as He humbled Himself and laid His life down to serve others. For His obedience, He received the greatest reward. When we lay down our lives and walk in obedience to God and serve others, we will also reap a reward.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

—Philippians 2:5-11

****************************************************************************

**Prayer for the week**

Heavenly Father,

We praise You for teaching us Your ways. Jesus, You said to take Your yoke upon us and learn from You, for You are gentle and humble. We know that we cannot acquire meekness on our own. So help us to draw near to You and learn from You. Keep us from falling into sin so we can be Your representatives to the world to show them Your love and salvation.

In Your precious name, Amen!

 ****************************************************************************

*If you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, please click on the “SALVATION” tab at the top of the website. Don’t wait another day!

*Come back next Monday as I share more of God’s Truths and the reasons behind the Truths.

*All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted.


Posted in Beatitudes Series, Book Giveways, Monday's Blogs by with
Deprecated: ltrim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 3030

Notice: Only variables should be passed by reference in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-content/themes/adventure/functions.php on line 73

Notice: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-content/themes/adventure/functions.php on line 73

Notice: Only variables should be passed by reference in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-content/themes/adventure/functions.php on line 73

Notice: Only variables should be assigned by reference in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-content/themes/adventure/functions.php on line 73
5 comments
.

Deprecated: ltrim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 3030

Deprecated: ltrim(): Passing null to parameter #1 ($string) of type string is deprecated in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-includes/wp-db.php on line 3030

Pingbacks & Trackbacks

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published.


    Warning: Undefined array key "sidebar-2" in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-content/themes/adventure/functions.php on line 168

    Warning: Undefined array key "sidebar-3" in /home/daubscom/sharingtruths.com/wp-content/themes/adventure/functions.php on line 168