Stir Our Hearts

Still Brewing 

Philippians 1:6, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 12:2, Hebrews 10:14, Colossians 3:10, 2 Peter 3:18

☕ Justified in CHRIST and continually being sanctified - we are still brewing! ☕

Still Brewing: Coffee #1

Hello, friends! I am excited to bring you along for this new blog adventure to grow our walks with JESUS together! LORD willing, every Monday and Thursday I will post a blog on some Scripture thoughts and notes I had in my Bible studies. It is a simple way to further grow my walk with JESUS, and be able to share HIM more. So, this does not only help you, but it also helps me as well! 

The name comes from a fun play on words. I wanted a coffee theme for this blog to keep it a calm and simple gathering of my Scripture notes, thoughts, and takeaways from throughout the week. Nothing big or grand where it would be unmanageable. But then as I was trying to think of a name, a theme of the process of sanctification came to me. On how this blog itself is accountability and a growing of my faith alongside of yours. And so the name Still Brewing came to me. All the Scripture references are ones of which show our continued process of sanctification. Those who are saved are justified in CHRIST, but we are continually being sanctified!

This past week I did a study on the short book of Jude. It was so fruitful, convicting, and encouraging. In the opening verses, the phrase "very eager to write to you about our common salvation" stuck out. The eagerness, joy, and excitement we have in JESUS is like no other! And not only is it stated in that phrase itself ("about our common salvation") why we are eager, but at the end of verse 1: "to those who are called, beloved in GOD the FATHER and kept for JESUS CHRIST." We have this joy because we are called, beloved, and kept by JESUS! 

An application phrase I read on this passage was, "always stirring my heart to the things of CHRIST." This is something myself and all of us can continue growing in. There is no end perfection until glorification. Hence where the blog title Still Brewing comes into play. HE is always growing us to be more and more like JESUS! 

A lot of this letter (verses 3-16) is about the warnings of false teachers, which is so important. What is important is for us to know what we need to do as well. We need to know the truth of Scripture and be in HIS Word constantly to know what is distorted teaching and help those who might be vulnerable to going astray. And we can only have our eyes opened to this by the HOLY SPIRIT. 

In verses 8, 11, and 12, the phrases, "relying on their dreams," "walked in the way of Cain," "for the sake of gain," and "hidden reefs" jumped out to me. The hidden things and desires of our hearts will pour outwards. I do not want to rely on my dreams, but rely solely on JESUS. I do not want to walk in the way of Cain, but walk how JESUS walked. I do not want to abandon who I am and Who I live for to gain, but to count all this world has as loss so my eyes stay steadfast on CHRIST. LORD, show us the hidden desires of our hearts so we can lay them beneath YOU.

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ." - Philippians 3:8

Going back to what the chunk of this letter is on, false teaching. Jude shows us it is nothing new by using examples from the Old Testament. I like this quote from a study commentary: "GOD's responce to the persistent disregard for HIS Name, HIS people, and HIS glory will not go unanswered. False teaching can creep in and destroy. To be vigilant, we must be constantly in HIS Word." (And we only get understanding of HIS Word through the HOLY SPIRIT as mentioned earlier) Let us saturate our minds and lives with GOD's Word, HIS Truth! 

In verses 18-21 I shall swing back around to a takeaway I had in verses 8, 11, and 12. The danger of following our worldly passions. Here, it is specifically sinful worldly passions. But, remember, anything that is put above GOD and is going in HIS place is an idol and a sin. And that sin unrepented will ultimately cause divisions and devoid ourselves from the SPIRIT. That is a frightening thing. On my own and in my flesh this would be me because I can't live for JESUS with my own weak flesh and strength. It is only through HIS grace I am writing this today. But it is always a prayer of mine to not get a seared conscience. That the LORD will continue to convict and guide me as I build myself up in my faith in HIM, praying in the HOLY SPIRIT through CHRIST. Keeping myself in HIS love and actively waiting for CHRIST's return!

I can now see why the study commentary I read while I studied Jude named the study "Perseverance." It sums it all up very well. To persevere in our continued daily growing to become more like JESUS. To be diligent and vigilant in our reading and study in GOD's Word. And to keep repenting each day when we start to chase after our own desires instead of chasing after JESUS. LORD stir our hearts daily to the things of CHRIST! 

LORD willing, see you all for our next cup of coffee together! 

- Sabina