Pursue the Good Life
It is God’s will for all to be whole, but only those that seek and pursue it, will
receive it (III John 2) “beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and
be in health, even as your soul prospers”. Romans 8:32 says “He (God) that
spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him
also freely give us all things”?
We have to take it by faith. We have to put our faith in action. Believe the word
of God and then act upon it.
The Bible gives us good advice. We have to seek peace and pursue it
(Proverbs 3:5-10) “trust in the Lord Yahweh with all your heart, and lean not to
your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct
your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear (reverence) the Lord Yahweh,
and depart from evil. It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.
Honor the Lord Yahweh with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your
increase. So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst
out with new wine”.
Psalms 34:8-17 says “O taste and see that the Lord Yahweh is good; blessed is
the man that trusts in Him. O fear (reverence) the Lord Yahweh, you His saints;
for there is no want to them that reverence Him. The young lions do lack, and
suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord Yahweh, shall not lack any good
thing. Come, you children, hearken to me, I will teach you the reverence of the
Lord Yahweh. What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he
may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile.
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord
Yahweh are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of
the Lord Yahweh is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them
from the earth. The righteous cry and the Lord Yahweh hears, and delivers
them out of all their troubles”.
Proverbs 11:18-20 says “the wicked works a deceitful work; but to him that sows
righteousness shall be a sure reward. As righteousness tends to life; so he that
pursues evil pursues it to his own death. They that are of a forward heart are
abomination to the Lord Yahweh, but such as are upright in their ways are His
delight”.
Romans 14:16-19 says “let not then your good be evil spoken of. For the
kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in
the Holy Spirit. For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God,
and approved of men. Let us therefore pursue (follow) after the things which
make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another”.
I Peter 3:8-12 says “finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be humble, be courteous. Not rendering evil for evil,
or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing, knowing that you are thereunto
called that you should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good
days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.
Let him turn from evil, and do good, let him seek peace, and pursue it. For the
eyes of the Lord are over the righteous; and His ears are open to their prayers,
but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil”.
By going from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we have established
that our responsibility is to seek and pursue it, in order to walk in it.
We are told to pursue love. After reading I Corinthians 13:1-8 “though I speak
with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as
sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy,
and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so
that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I
bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,
and have not charity, it profits me nothing. Charity suffers long, and is kind;
charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up. Does not behave
itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil.
Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. Bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all things. Charity never fails, but whether there
be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease,
whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away”. It warns us that without love,
it profits us nothing. I Corinthians 14:1 tells us to follow after charity, love, and
desire spiritual gifts.
Pursue a relationship with God (Hosea 6:3) “then shall we know, if we follow on to
know the Lord Yahweh; His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall
come to us as the rain, as the latter and former rain to the earth”.
Jesus says in John 14:21-23 “he that has My commandments and keeps them,
he it is that loves Me, and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will
love him, and will manifest Myself to him. Judas said to Him, not Isdariot, Lord,
how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world? Jesus
answered and said to him, if a man love Me, he will keep My words, and My
Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him”.
I Thessalonians 5:14-18 says “now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are
unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
See that none render evil for evil to any man, but ever follow that which is good,
both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without
ceasing. In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you”.
Hebrews 12:13-15 says “and make straight paths for your feet, less that which is
lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all
men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently
less any man fail of the grace of God, less any root of bitterness springing up
trouble you, and thereby many be defiled”.
Paul gives Timothy good advice and this applies to us as well (I Timothy 6:11-12)
“but you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold
on eternal life, whereto you are also called, and have professed a good
profession before many witnesses”.
In II Timothy 1:7,13-14 it says “for God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Hold fast the form of sound words,
which you have heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That
good thing which was committed to you keep by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us”.
Paul tells Timothy how to be a good vessel (II Timothy 2:20-22) “but in a great
house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of
earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge
himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honor, sanctified, and fit for the
master’s use, and prepared to every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but
follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace; with them that call on the Lord out of a
pure heart”.
In Philemon verse 6 we are told “that the communication of your faith may
become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in
Christ Jesus”.
Paul proclaims that he have fought the good fight of faith (Philippians 3:10-15)
“that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His
sufferings, being made conformable to His death. If by any means I might attain
to the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either
were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also
I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth to those things which are before. I press toward the mark for
the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as
be perfect, be thus minded; and if in any thing you be other wise minded, God
shall reveal even this to you”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: June 14, 2011
It is God’s will for all to be whole, but only those that seek and pursue it, will
receive it (III John 2) “beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and
be in health, even as your soul prospers”. Romans 8:32 says “He (God) that
spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him
also freely give us all things”?
We have to take it by faith. We have to put our faith in action. Believe the word
of God and then act upon it.
The Bible gives us good advice. We have to seek peace and pursue it
(Proverbs 3:5-10) “trust in the Lord Yahweh with all your heart, and lean not to
your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct
your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear (reverence) the Lord Yahweh,
and depart from evil. It shall be health to your navel, and marrow to your bones.
Honor the Lord Yahweh with your substance, and with the first fruits of all your
increase. So shall your barns be filled with plenty, and your presses shall burst
out with new wine”.
Psalms 34:8-17 says “O taste and see that the Lord Yahweh is good; blessed is
the man that trusts in Him. O fear (reverence) the Lord Yahweh, you His saints;
for there is no want to them that reverence Him. The young lions do lack, and
suffer hunger, but they that seek the Lord Yahweh, shall not lack any good
thing. Come, you children, hearken to me, I will teach you the reverence of the
Lord Yahweh. What man is he that desires life, and loves many days, that he
may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile.
Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord
Yahweh are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The face of
the Lord Yahweh is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them
from the earth. The righteous cry and the Lord Yahweh hears, and delivers
them out of all their troubles”.
Proverbs 11:18-20 says “the wicked works a deceitful work; but to him that sows
righteousness shall be a sure reward. As righteousness tends to life; so he that
pursues evil pursues it to his own death. They that are of a forward heart are
abomination to the Lord Yahweh, but such as are upright in their ways are His
delight”.
Romans 14:16-19 says “let not then your good be evil spoken of. For the
kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in
the Holy Spirit. For he that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God,
and approved of men. Let us therefore pursue (follow) after the things which
make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another”.
I Peter 3:8-12 says “finally, be you all of one mind, having compassion one of
another, love as brethren, be humble, be courteous. Not rendering evil for evil,
or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing, knowing that you are thereunto
called that you should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good
days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.
Let him turn from evil, and do good, let him seek peace, and pursue it. For the
eyes of the Lord are over the righteous; and His ears are open to their prayers,
but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil”.
By going from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we have established
that our responsibility is to seek and pursue it, in order to walk in it.
We are told to pursue love. After reading I Corinthians 13:1-8 “though I speak
with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as
sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy,
and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so
that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I
bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,
and have not charity, it profits me nothing. Charity suffers long, and is kind;
charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up. Does not behave
itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil.
Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. Bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all things. Charity never fails, but whether there
be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease,
whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away”. It warns us that without love,
it profits us nothing. I Corinthians 14:1 tells us to follow after charity, love, and
desire spiritual gifts.
Pursue a relationship with God (Hosea 6:3) “then shall we know, if we follow on to
know the Lord Yahweh; His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall
come to us as the rain, as the latter and former rain to the earth”.
Jesus says in John 14:21-23 “he that has My commandments and keeps them,
he it is that loves Me, and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will
love him, and will manifest Myself to him. Judas said to Him, not Isdariot, Lord,
how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world? Jesus
answered and said to him, if a man love Me, he will keep My words, and My
Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him”.
I Thessalonians 5:14-18 says “now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are
unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
See that none render evil for evil to any man, but ever follow that which is good,
both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without
ceasing. In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you”.
Hebrews 12:13-15 says “and make straight paths for your feet, less that which is
lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Follow peace with all
men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Looking diligently
less any man fail of the grace of God, less any root of bitterness springing up
trouble you, and thereby many be defiled”.
Paul gives Timothy good advice and this applies to us as well (I Timothy 6:11-12)
“but you, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,
godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold
on eternal life, whereto you are also called, and have professed a good
profession before many witnesses”.
In II Timothy 1:7,13-14 it says “for God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Hold fast the form of sound words,
which you have heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That
good thing which was committed to you keep by the Holy Spirit which dwells in us”.
Paul tells Timothy how to be a good vessel (II Timothy 2:20-22) “but in a great
house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of
earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge
himself from these, he shall be a vessel to honor, sanctified, and fit for the
master’s use, and prepared to every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but
follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace; with them that call on the Lord out of a
pure heart”.
In Philemon verse 6 we are told “that the communication of your faith may
become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in
Christ Jesus”.
Paul proclaims that he have fought the good fight of faith (Philippians 3:10-15)
“that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His
sufferings, being made conformable to His death. If by any means I might attain
to the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either
were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also
I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth to those things which are before. I press toward the mark for
the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as
be perfect, be thus minded; and if in any thing you be other wise minded, God
shall reveal even this to you”.
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: June 14, 2011
