The halfbaked Bard

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Rom:12:21 Evil is the enemy of God. As a child of God do not succumb to evil, be it lust, greed , selfishness, pride or of any sort. Do not be overcome by these. Resist when the thought comes itself. But overcome evil with good. Being good, reflecting the goodness of your God. The world runs in this rut - repay evil by evil. Envy, pride, revenge. Step out. Be a difference. Show the right way to do it. Show the way God has done it. Who came seeking down, when I was rebellious. When I was His enemy He loved me. Image courtesy: https://www.istockphoto.com/search/2/image-film?phrase=child+foot+step+on+sand&tracked_gsrp_landing=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istockphoto.com%2Fphotos%2Fchild-foot-step-on-sand

Rom:12:3 Not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think so as to have sound judgement. Not an attitude of pride, thinking high of yourself. Not an attitude of self condemnation, thinking of yourself low. Pride goes before a fall. Always remember the grace by which you have been saved. Destined to eternal hell, pulled out of the very mouths of damnation. Do not think high of yourself. Do not be condemning yourself. Thinking low of yourself is not humility. That is thinking low of your Abba. You are a child of God. An heir of God. Co-heir with Christ. Seated on the right hand side of God. No one can demean you. Not even yourself. You are the King's son. The King's daughter. Have a sound judgement, as God has allotted each, a measure of faith. Based on the measure of faith allotted to you. See yourself thus. As Jesus sees you. Not proud. Not self demeaning. Image courtesy: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-gaming-headset/

Transformed by the renewing of your mind. Rom:12:2 Many strive to be good. Being good to the society out of obligation or out of selfish interests. But those are all not being good, it is doing or showing good. For inherantly the heart is deceitful. True change has to come from within. If I am showing goodness to someone out of anything apart from love, that's showing, not being. True transformation has to happen by the renewing of mind - a change of mindset. That only the Holy Spirit can do. Here the transformation desired by God is even bigger. The transformation told here is not to be a better human. It is into the likeness of the Son. God's good and acceptable and perfect will is not that you would be a good man or woman, but to be like the Son. By a total change in approach of your mind. The way you think.  This change has to happen from the inside, which God Himself has to do. Not from the outside by you, or by force. Only be desirous of it. Only seek and year...

Rom:12:1 Therefore I urge you brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God which is your spiritual act of worship. In response to knowledge of God, given to us by His amazing grace, present your body as a living sacrifice. In response to what you have been given freely, respond to it by offering your body, your life fully for God.it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me. Fully for God. That is the key for fullness of life that He promised. Denying your own self and fully for Christ alone. A holy sacrifice. Not a fallen, marred one as you used to live. But a life directed to God. Pushing holiness. For He is holy. Not perfection. But holiness. Trying. You might not be able to. But try. Complete perfection and complete glorification will happen later.  But live a life that is justified and therefore pleasing to God. Who saved you. Living such a life acceptable to God is your exact worship. Singing songs or raisin...

Unfathomable His ways. Rom:11:33 His ways are higher than your ways. With the limited knowledge and finite wisdom that you have, you take decisions. But letting it into the hands of the infinite God of unsearchable wisdom and unlimited knowledge is easier. For He loves you. His plans are to prosper you and not to harm you. His plans are to bring you hope and future. Image credit: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/see-how-crushing-pressures-increase-in-the-oceans-depths/

Rom:11:17 You being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became part taker with them of the rich root of the olive tree. The purpose of grafting is so that, you would yield fruit from a type - for better results. A combination of good from both the branch and from the tree. But this grafting in the Bible is not of that purpose. That wild olive was useless. It is grafted so that the wild olive will yield fruit. It is all benefit for the wild olive. It was not considered worthy. But out of kindness, it is grafted to the original tree. But then there are branches that are severed, Israel who has rejected the gospel. It is because they were severed, because of their unbelief that we have been privileged to be grafted to Him. If they were severed, how much more we would be if we lack faith. And Paul goes on to say, they who have been severed can be grafted back, if they believe. Sum and substance is that - it is by Grace that you have been saved by faith. Nothing for you...