Scriptural readings:
II Peter 3:9, I John 1:9, II Timothy 2:15, Proverbs 4:20-22
It may seem odd to title an article ‘R and E.’ Please stay with me for a few more minutes; it can serve as a meaningful time for you. Let’s go. The letters R and E, if joined together, form a word that becomes a prefix. Reconsider and rewrite are some good examples. How can this be an interesting article? Now, let’s go deeper.
II Peter 3:9
King James Version
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
New Living Translation
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
Repent
The prefix re means to do it again. Nonetheless, in this word, repentance, the first two letters (r and e) are not a prefix. Repentance is a single word that means being sorry, and it is too much that one has to stop. Now, can you see what the spiritual significance is forming? Holiness(Ephesians 1:4). Yes, we are to be separated for a purpose that God has for everyone born into the kingdom of God. The moment we are born again, we have a purpose.
But the truth is that we commit the same sins after we have been born again. Why? I think that this is the same question that most Christians deal with. Correct? In the spiritual sense, repentance is done only once and is not to be repeated. So, now as a Christian, when we repent, we don’t repeat the same sins. Did you notice the word repeat from the earlier sentence? In the same manner, repeat is a single word, and the first two letters do not mean a prefix. Yet, it means to do it again.
Here is a truth. We, as dead in our sin, whether we like it or not, do not care about God and salvation. We already have a spot in hell. This time, as a forgiven sinner, through Jesus Christ, salvation is valued, and serving God is our ultimate purpose. This personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ is now a lifeline. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. Much more if we do not bear fruit is to be cut off.
Understanding this concept is crucial. It illuminates the path towards a new existence. It involves the experience of being born again, as discussed in John 3:3. This rebirth signifies a fresh start. It also facilitates the alignment of our emotions with divine principles. This alignment allows us to resonate harmoniously with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In this awakened state, we believers find our hearts and minds attuned to a higher calling. This change reflects a profound transformation that affects all aspects of their lives.
I John 1:9
King James Version
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
New Living Translation
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness”.
Repeat
Humility is a profound quality that God recognizes when we openly confess our sins. In that moment of confession, God sees His Son, Jesus Christ, residing within us. Jesus is entirely devoid of sin. Yet He bore the weight of our transgressions. Jesus, through His death and resurrection, has taken upon Himself our burden of condemnation. Every second of our lives needs trust and protection from God. What should we do so as not to fall into the same trap?
Lead us not to temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Deliverance from evil gets rid of temptation. Evil has the capacity to tempt us; let’s remember this. Temptation has a door for us to open and enter, going back to our earlier sinful lives. Overcoming seduction to do evil is better. It is more valuable than falling on our knees and confessing our sins. We know He is faithful to forgive us. He cleanses us from the wickedness we have done. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” We can’t reason that the Holy Spirit does not convict us. Repeating the same sins is not new to us. It will not change; we did. Temptations should not be pleasing to us anymore, but rather a threat to our faith. The more we fall for them, the more we move further from God.
God always says something.
Relationship is all about communication and acceptance. God created a complex nervous system. It coordinates and regulates bodily functions. This enables communication between different parts of the body and the brain. If false information is fed to our nervous system, the response is negative. Think of this. We will not arrive with mistakes unless we make a wrong decision. Decisions are necessary. We must make sure God is at the center of this necessity as we come up with a decision.
Fundamentally, we need more of our time with God to achieve His will in us. A necessity of dedicating an undivided time to Him to comprehend the genuine reason for our separation to become holy. The rationale we are told to draw near to Him, He will draw near to us(James 4:8). Be still and know I am God(Psalms 46:10). Living in this confusing world, we would only end up asking God. What is happening today is 100 percent confusion. We need God’s confirmation.
II Timothy 2:15
King James Version
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
New Living Translation
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
And now for the E.
End times and evangelize are now two significant words. By the time this article comes to you, Christians around the world are making massive efforts to evangelize. These endeavors are fulfilling the end times. We have to be a part of this effort. How? God’s words in the Holy Bible. Studying, not just reading the Bible, reveals many things for us.
Now, let’s go deeper and trace the real meaning. The word study in Greek is (σπουδάζω). Transliteration: spoudazō; phonetic Spelling: (spoo-dad’-zo) came from another Greek word (σπουδή). Transliteration: spoudē; phonetic Spelling: (spoo-day’). It finally originated from the Greek word (σπεύδω). The transliteration is spoudē, and the phonetic spelling is (spyoo’-do), meaning speed. Now we see that this word means to make an effort quickly. He can then approve and just read the rest of the verse. And guess what? There is more to this. Let’s go on.
Why do we make an effort to quickly show God’s approval? Something we should not be ashamed of. Of having confidence to rightly divide the Word? Simple. Evangelism. This is now the time when the harvest is full, but few will harvest. Luke 10:2 states, “Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great. But the labourers are few. Pray ye therefore to the Lord of the harvest. Ask that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.”
We have a mission to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our Father will give specific instructions for us to achieve. Evangelizing comes in various ways. Just like our body, there is a nervous system, a digestive system, etc. These systems work together to sustain what the body needs. If a system fails, it slows down to repair. The same with the mission God had given us.
The presence of false pastors, teachers, etc., will arise and abound during these last days. Confusion will also progress. This will lead to errors in our decisions. It is essential to study God’s words. Proverbs 10:8 says, “The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.” This tells us that divine instructions will be revealed to us. These instructions help reveal foolishness. They also offer insight into what is acceptable to believe and discuss.
Proverbs 4
King James Version
V. 20 “My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.”
V. 21 “Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.”
V. 22 “For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”
New Living Translation
V. 20 “My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words”.
V.21 Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
V. 22 for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.
The next 24 hours we spend are to be confronted by uncertainty, confusion, and making weak decisions, absolutely. We must truly believe and practice what is written in the Holy Scriptures. Otherwise, every 24 hours would lead us to believe the lies of the enemy. This would result in misery. It would also lead to hopelessness and weak faith.
God said He will not leave us nor forsake us(Hebrews 13:5). The very reason why the Holy Spirit was sent to dwell in us is to comfort us(John 14:16). Much more, continuing to verse 20, “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you”. Verse 21, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him”.