Paradise Cafe Discussions - A Place For Bible Research And Christian Encouragement

Good afternoon ... I hope everyone's day is going well ... or will be going well depending on where you live ...

The text for today is ...

''Where is this promised presence of his?'' 2 Pet. 3:4......

''We do well to ask ourselves: ''What brings me the greatest satisfaction? Is it the Bible study and fellowship at Christian meetings, or is it weekends away from Christian responsibilities?'' Walking by faith means that we keep busy in the Kingdom work, with full trust in Jehovah's promises. (ICor. 15:58) Walking by faith helps us to shun fleshly views that the end is far off or is not coming at all. Unlike skeptics who make light of Bible prophesy, we discern how world events line up with what God's word foretold for our day. For example, do not the attitude and the behavior of people in general give evidence that we are living in ''the last days''? (2Tim. 3:1-5) With the eyes of faith, we see that current world events are not just history repeating itself. Rather, they form ''the sign of (Christ's presence and of the conclusion of the system of things.'' --Matt.24"1-14...w9/15/05 10,11

Interesting questions these ...

''What brings me the greatest satisfaction? Is it the Bible study and fellowship at Christian meetings, or is it weekends away from Christian responsibilities?''

I have to ask myself ... how can we ever be ... 'away from Christian responsibilities ...?:dontknow:

Are we not Christians 24/7 ...? Is not all we do, think and say based on being a 'responsible Christian' whether at 'play' or 'work' or 'school' or 'meetings' or wherever?

And indeed ... does not knowing that we bringing praise and honor to our God and his Son give us much satisfaction ... an inner sense of peace and joy knowing we are seeking to do what is right ...?

Yes, we are SOOOOOOOOOOO looking forward to the 'promised presence' and all that it will bring and accomplish ...

However, no matter WHEN it may come ... isn't fulfilling our Christian responsibilities ... our very life's and our life course ... something that we WANT to do ...

What I mean by that is ... as an EXAMPLE ... (not fact)

Even 'if' the 'presence' were yet a hundred years off ... would that stop us from living as Christian's ...? Would we 'put off' doing 'today' what we know would be pleasing to our heavenly Father as we sought to walk in his Son's footsteps ...?

If we would ... then WHY are we Christians ... just for the 'reward' that is 'soon' to come ... or because we know it is the RIGHT COURSE for us to follow?

We DO need to keep CLOSE in MIND the presence of our Lord ... and let it sink from our mind to our HEART so that we will be motivated to act as Christians in all we say and do ...

Just some quick thoughts ... hopefully someone will add their own one or two ...

Luv BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts:

A Christian 24/7 Luke 9:23+

Amen

designs

Most Witnesses I ask, why are you a Jehovah's Witness, most of the time the answer is "because I want to liver forever on paradise earth."

That's the wrong attitude. We serve Jehovah because He is worthy of it, he is our God.

Let me ask, if Jesus had said, "this is all there is, you live, grow old and die, nothing more." Would you still serve him?

RR

Amen, AMEN, Designs!

23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. 25What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? (Luke 9, NIV)

"Unlike skeptics who make light of Bible prophesy, we discern how world events line up with what God's word foretold for our day. For example, do not the attitude and the behavior of people in general give evidence that we are living in ''the last days''?" (w9/15/05, 10-11)

The watchtower, in its infinite wisdom, once again puts the cart before the horse. As always, it appeals to man's acquired fleshly desire to save his own sorry rear-end...rather than his innate desire to live up to a higher calling. You don't win any races without asserting yourself. Jesus understood this and appealed to human's original, godly nature. He touched the spirit of men. It's a wonder that the watchtower hasn't figured it out in its 130+ years. Or, perhaps, they just "forgot" it. I'm not impressed with the watchtower's numbers. If it understood its own Christian mission, it might have hundreds of millions of believers - but it ain't gonna happen.

gus

Hi, Everybody! :hibye: I am soooo proud to be able to say that I know all of you! :thumbup:

Here's a little something from the recent archives concerning this theme text.

http://www.paradisecafediscussions.net/s...p?tid=1401

Keep up the good work, all! Keep the faith!

I miss all of you. Christian Love to all, :love: isomam

Morning BruisedReed,

Hebrews 11:6 "...he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." NWT.
When we strive to serve him in complete faithfulness he remembers our works being the loving God he is.

Love,
Tessa