JoeB

I feel Paul wrote these words to remind us that we are not alone, the Gospel is preached throughout the world. The gospel is working and changing lives for believers all over the world. If we as a church find certain parts of the gospel "unappealing" we run the risk of becoming like society around us, following the desires of the flesh rather than the spirit.

I believe Paul is referring to himself and all who aspire to walk with Christ in this journey called life. Somebody mentioned that we are basically "a work in progress" and I have to unequivocally agree with that description!

Jesus is showing us the example of how to live our lives serving others. Jesus is the supreme example of unconditional love- he died for us sinners. We should strive to serve and love others in the same way. Also, the image of the crucified Jesus on the cross is a vivid reminder of how much God loves us! We should never forget this!

I like to believe that this truth means we should be easy on ourselves. Sometimes I am very hard on myself when I make a mistake or don't live up to a certain expectation I hold for myself. I like to remind myself that Christ died for me on the cross as a sinner- he suffered and gave up his life for "a wretch" like myself! If Jesus made this sacrifice for me I should be able to be more accepting of myself and how I am. Additionally, I should be accepting and forgiving of others around me. I don't know if this directly responds to the question but I wanted to share this.

Perseverance in the face of difficulty/suffering makes us stronger and more mature persons. When we stand firm in the face of trials we develop character and internal fortitude (strength). When we stand firm under great pressure we see that God is always with us and if we place our trust in him we recognize that he has a plan for us. That in turn produces hope, because God always has our best interests in mind even if we don't recognize it.

I believe that faith is the condition for being justified. Faith is the starting point for our salvation and Christian path in life. Without faith how can we trust in God, his plan for us, or his word as expressed in the bible? In other words, faith is the most elementary and critical element for Christian living.

I believe these passages are a mandate for us to go forth live a Christian life, setting an example by how we live for others to follow. We are called to have faith, be courageous and put all our trust and hope in Jesus our Lord.

We need to search within ourselves and ask "how can I best use my skills, abilities, and LIFE as an offering to Christ?". I think prayerful reflection will help me answer the question of what I can give to Jesus.

Thanks for the inspiring words, "He (Jesus) is the answer to EVERYTHING. Pray it through."

Jesus is the King of kings, Jesus is our Savior, Lord, and Messiah. We should worship Him and center our lives around Him. This isn't always easy to do, sometimes worldly things can win out when we lose sight of Christ in our lives. If the 3 wise men were compelled to humbly bow before Jesus we should also do the same!

I try to make time each day for thoughtful meditation and prayer- this leads to curiosity to learn more about Christ and amazement to what he has done for me.

I find your comment very insightful! God is indeed at work even in our "darkened and dirty" world!