Perpetual Praise

- the ability to keep worshiping God!

I am intrigued with this verse in Rev 4:8-11 where the Bible describes the throne of God and the four living creatures and the twenty four elders.

The four living creatures never stop praising God but 'whenever' they do, the elders fall down and worship God.
It all seems spontaneous and yet perpetual!

In my experience, the more frequent I do the same thing, the less spontaneous it is.
How do you continuously, spontaneously do anything?

It is so easy in our distracted society to disengage.
We disengage because we have become familiar.

When was the last time I had a moment of celebration with God; or thanked Him intensely for some crazy outcome; or took a moment, longer than usual, just to linger in His presence??

Everything in this world says 'take charge, be in control, don't let go' but perhaps its our vulnerability that allows us to see the magnificence of God.

The wonder of God will always lead to Perpetual Praise!

Religious Compensation

1 Peter 3:3-4 your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

I have 2 beautiful girls - my wife Julia, and my daughter Harmony.
Not only are they pretty on the outside but they are beautiful on the inside. I love watching them get ready to go out. Any makeup and jewelry only highlights what already exists!

There are some extremists that say women are not to wear makeup or jewelry, and would often quote the same verse I am using here. But a closer look at this Scripture reveals the truth about freedom - 'Your beauty should not come from...'

The question is where does your beauty come from and how do you work on it?

Religious Compensation says bring your face down to your spirit - its wrong to make your face (outside) look better that your spirit (inside).
But religion always focuses on the external, the outside. Jesus wants us to focus on the internal, the inside, the inner self!

If you work on the unfading beauty of a quiet and gentle spirit, makeup will only highlight what cannot be ignored!

Active Repentance

Because we are saved by faith and not by works, it stands to reason that we are cautious of anything that promotes works.
Q: How do you prove you are saved?
- Jesus said, by their fruit you will recognise them.

Jesus is the vine and we are His branches, so whatever is growing from must resemble the fruit of the vine!

Repentance is where I say 'No more bad fruit!'

Acts 25:20 ... I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.

I am not saved by good works but they prove I have saved by God's grace!