Christian Teachings: Snap Shots by Be Convinced

Do we procrastinate?

From Procrastination to Promptitude: Finding Your Sweet Spot in Christ-Centered living

Procrastination is a contemporary word reborn from “crastination” that comes from the Latin word meaning “to-morrow” or “pro-to-morrow”. "Procrastination is the thief of time. Collar him!": This is a famous quote on procrastination from Charles Dickens' David Copperfield illustrating procrastination as a thief who steals time. Despite knowing the consequences, we procrastinate our everyday tasks, big and small. Procrastination is not only a poor time management, but also affects our relationship with God.

The Bible characters to contemplate

· Felix - When Paul talked about righteousness, self-control, judgment and faith in Christ Jesus, Felix listened to these spiritual things. But he was afraid and said that he would listen at a more convenient time. He procrastinated by making excuses and delaying. This is an act of procrastination and Felix missed the opportunity. (Acts 24:24-27)

· Parable of two sons – When the father asks the two sons to work in the vineyard, one initially refuses his father's request to work, but later repents and goes. The other one agrees but does not go. Here, we understand the emphasis on the value of eventual obedience over mere verbal assent, yet it is a case of initial procrastination. (Matthew 21:28-31)

· The Call of the Disciples - The calling of Jesus' disciples is a perfect model of prompt action and immediate obedience. When Jesus called Peter, Andrew, James, and John, they left their nets at once and followed Him. Their prompt response exemplifies the ideal reply to God’s calling. (Matthew 4:19-20)

The lesson

· Prioritise your work – break everyday tasks into manageable ones and start your day trusting God for the outcome. (“Christ is the one who gives me the strength I need to do whatever I must do.”, ERV, Philippians 4:13)

· Pray for God's strength and guidance – don’t ever forget to set aside time each day for prayer. ("Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Phil 4:6)

· Ponder on the word of God – read the Bible, meditate and reflect on daily . (“Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take.”, ERV ,Psalm 119:105)

· Practice obedience in life – surrender to God’s will and trust His plan and time always. ("The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever". 1 John 2:17)

The Biblical context

The word “Procrastination” is not mentioned in the Bible; but we read about laziness, slothfulness, or being sluggish. Also, the Bible stresses the act of promptness like diligence in our work ethic and the importance of self-discipline or self-control. A self-controlled life is one that reflects the character of God and is a way to live a life that glorifies Him. “People who cannot control themselves are like cities without walls to protect them.” (Proverbs 25:28).

Procrastination has no place in a believer’s life, especially in proclaiming the gospel to others. In Mark 16:15, we read, “Then he told them: Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world”. This is the task Jesus had given to us before He was taken into heaven and we can’t procrastinate on telling people about Jesus. We need to fulfil it right now so that everyone hears the Gospel and know Jesus as their Savior!

The Care

When delaying and deferment have become intentional and habitual, we can make tomorrow delightful for us. Try to bring tomorrow to today, don’t try to push today to tomorrow. When we have some annoying work to be completed, just begin the work, and ask God to give the strength to finish it. We can turn weaknesses to strengths and threats to opportunities. Here is the assurance: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)

We have one life to live and that should be lived meaningfully bringing glory to God.

Procrastination makes one a victim, but Promptitude can make one a Victor.

Let’s be Just in Time to meet Jesus at any Time!

Ten Commandments for young people

What is best for our life !

You may not love anyone or anything more than you love GOD.
You may not worship or put more importance on any person or thing, other than God. You must worship only the Lord, not your parents, not a friend, not a movie star or sports hero, not a car, not a skate board. Nothing.
You may not swear. Use God’s Holy Name only in a loving way, never to express anger or frustration.
One day of your week should be set aside for rest and the worship of God. Work six days of the week only. Keep Sunday as a special day set aside to meet with other Christians and relax.
Be respectful to your parents. Love them, and the Lord will reward you with a long life.
You may not hate other people; don’t ever think of hurting someone else in any way.
Keep your thoughts and actions pure.
You may not take and keep anything that doesn’t belong to you.
You may not tell lies, especially when that lie will hurt someone else.
You may not be jealous of what others have. You may not be jealous of your friend’s new clothes or smartphone or the big house your neighbor lives in. Be satisfied with what you have.

From the Adventure Bible for young readers

RECORDS ABOUT THE BIBLE!

Shortest Verse (in English)

Jesus wept.

John 11:35

Longest Verse (In English)

At once the royal secretaries were summoned—on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language.

Esther 8:9

Shortest Chapter

Psalm 117 - 2 verses

Longest Chapter

Psalm 119 - 176 verses

Shortest Book

3 John - 15 verses

Longest Book

Psalms - 150 chapters

The big Crooked Satan Gang!

Satan

The wicked angel gets kicked out of heaven for going against God; he becomes the gang leader to other angels who joined him in the attempted mutiny. He seeks to destroy all humans by separating them from God forever. He is enemy #1. He is also called serpent, accuser, deceiver, the prince of demons, the enemy, the dragon and the devil. His offenses include fraud, deceit, slander, murder and assault.

Antichrist

An evil being who works for Satan. He has a mouthful of lies and a bag full of tricks to deceive people in the final days of the world before Jesus returns. He’s the tattoo specialist who makes it mandatory for everyone to wear 666 as a pledge of their loyalty to him. He is known as the beast out of the sea.

The false prophet

The Antichrist’s campaign manager appointed by Satan to get people to worship their beastly candidate. He enforces the evil worship and does a lot of the Antichrist’s dirty work. He is the beast out of the Earth. His offenses include corruption and conspiracy.

Demons

They are known to be slick and crafty like their boss Satan and part of Satan’s army consisting of the wicked soldiers and the pack of angels who rebelled against God and get thrown out of Heaven. Their business is evil and their ambition is to make the lives of God’s children still and miserable. Their main offense includes Soul kidnapping.

The whole gang will be sentenced to eternal torment in the lake of fire.

(From the pages of Teens Bible)

Meet PROFESSORS in Bible (An imagination😊)

If some of the Bible characters are offered a teaching job at the University of Old and New Testaments, just think about the subjects to which they would probably apply.

Professors in the university of New Testament

Paul - Professor of theological studies

Paul is one of the important persons in the history of Christianity. His epistles (letters) have great influence on Christian theology mainly on the relationship between God the Father and Jesus, and on the human relationship with God

Luke - Professor of Medicine

Luke was the beloved Physician as mentioned by Paul in Colossians 4:14, " Luke the beloved physician sends you his greetings..." His reputation is significant because he never disputed or questioned a claim of healing either through the ministry of Jesus or the leaders of the early church.

MatThew & ZacchAEus - Professors of Taxation

Mathew was a tax collector mentioned in Matthew 9:9. He collected taxes and other levies that was set by the Romans. Zacchaeus was another tax collector who would collect money from the Jews. People disliked tax collectors as they made the Romans richer and the Jews poorer. But both Matthew and Zacchaeus were forgiven by Jesus.

Lydia - Professor of Business Studies

Lydia was a wealthy and influential businesswoman who sold articles dyed purple as mentioned in Acts 16:14, "One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth..."

Peter - Professor of Fisheries

Peter grew from a fisherman to become a fisher of men. Mathew 4:18,19 says, "Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

PROFESSORS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OLD TESTAMENT

Adam - Professor of Zoology

Genesis 2: 19,20

God brought all the beasts of the field and the birds of the air to Adam and he named all livestock, the birds and the beasts.

Joseph - Professor of Economics

Genesis 47:14-16

Joseph managed the food and economic crisis during the famine at Egypt.

Moses - Professor of Management Studies

Exodus 17

Moses played multiple roles throughout his life. Moses is a courageous leader who rose to all challenges and led the Israelites out of Egypt.

Jonah - Professor of Marine Biology

Jonah 1 - 2

Through his ship journey to Tarshish, there was shipwreck and he spent time in the great fish's belly. (1:17)

Deborah - Professor of Defense Studies

Judges 4 - 5

Deborah's role is important in leading the Israelites in a military campaign against the Canaanite general Sisera. Under her guidance, the Israelite forces, led by Barak, won a significant war over the Canaanites at the Battle of Mount Tabor.

Solomon - Professor of Philosophy

Solomon wrote the Song of Solomon, the book of Ecclesiastes, and much of the book of Proverbs. God gave him wisdom when he asked for governing people righteously.

Ezekiel - Professor of Anatomy

Ezekiel 37: 1- 14

God transported Ezekiel in a vision to a valley full of dry bones and directed him to speak to the bones. Ezekiel was to tell the bones that God would make breath, enter the bones and they would come to life and he did.

David - Professor of Music and Literature

1 Samuel 16:16-23

David was “a skillful musician, a mighty man of valor, a warrior, one prudent in speech, a handsome man,” and the LORD was with him. (I Samuel 16:18)

Hosea - Professor of Psychology (Specialisation in marriage and counselling)

Hosea 3: 1- 5

Hosea in his ministry, he expounded on the adultery metaphor, calling Israel to account for its idolatry and apostasy, laying out God’s charges against the people, and foretelling judgment.

Esther - Professor of Home Science (Specialisation in Banquets)

Esther 5

Esther said, “If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet I have prepared for him” (Est. 5:4).

King Xerxes really liked banqueting.

Lessons to Learn

The above mentioned Biblical characters have accomplished great things, but they were normal people just like us. These ordinary people who made decisions transformed them into extraordinary legends and accomplished their objectives. Isn't it great?

Acknowledgement: Teen Devotional Bible

Go and make disciples of all nations...

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