This week’s Bible study will go through some rules and commands of Jesus that are put into place for our own good. God is not a “killjoy” intent on keeping us stoic and sterile and stuck. God’s commands help us not only maintain our relationship with Him but also are for our ultimate good and help move us forward for our ultimate joy and good life. Isn’t that what we are all longing \for and striving for as a new year rolls around? Isn’t that what we are all truly longing for if we are really honest?
Our “Ten Minutes With God” weekly Bible study will not be posted during the season of Advent. However, we have a DAILY devotional through Christmas Eve, December 24th, 2019. Please click here to go to those devotionals.
Gratitude and thanksgiving. These two mindsets have been scientifically proven to be healthy and to bring a deep level of joy. Neuro-science tells us that speaking gratitude and remembering to be grateful give us a dopamine drip and a serotonin rush which helps build healthy neuro-pathways in our brain. It is also scriptural and builds trust in our good God. Thanks (worship) is the only thing we can give God. Everything else, He gives to us.
What Jesus calls "the greatest commandment" sometimes seems like two commands (love God; love neighbor), but it is really two sides of the same coin. If you love God, there will quite naturally be action that is taken. You will - almost automatically - love your neighbor. Inaction or declaring yourself unaffiliated or just standing by with a smile on your face isn’t an option. Being a good neighbor means you are pro-active. You do something. There is action involved.
Pastor Adam shared the following quote by the governor of Colorado: “if we would become a community of great neighbors, it would drastically eliminate issues in our entire city.” Think about the implications of that: no programs. No initiatives. No marches. No drives. You could change your city by just being a good neighbor and doing what Jesus taught over 2000 years ago.
