Scarcely Be: Barely, Hardly, Almost Not

‘Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous SCARCELY BE saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God COMMIT the keeping of THEIR SOULS to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.' (1 Peter 4:12-19 KJV)

'The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed..' (1 Peter 5:1 KJV)

Often commit the keeping of your souls according to the will of God, rather than seldom, infrequently, or not at all.

Addicted: Strongly Inclined to Do

'Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do. Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren. As touching our brother Apollos, I greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren: but his will was not at all to come at this time; but he will come when he shall have convenient time. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity. I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have ADDICTED THEMSELVES to the ministry of the saints,) that ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.'  (1 Corinthians 16:10-16 KJV)

We should see how Paul applauded the works of Timotheus, the devotion of the house of Stephanas, and every one with them!

Joint-Heirs with Christ

‘The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer him, that we may be also glorified together.'

(Romans 8:16,17 KJV)

'Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.'

(Hebrews 12:12,13 KJV)

Stand up and lift your hands/arms to the position Jesus made on the cross, so you may bend/bow your knees before Him, and follow on straight paths for feet.

'For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.'

(1 Corinthians 1:22-25 KJV)

Assume the position for wisdom to strength.

Selfish Destruction through to Peaceful Understanding

'From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.' (James 4:1-3 KJV

'And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.’

(1 John 5:14,15 KJV)

'Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.'

(Philippians 4:4-7 KJV)

By prayer, supplication with thanksgiving, God turns our selfish, scattered desires to peaceful understanding through the lordship of Jesus Christ.

Rejoice IN the Lord

‘Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision. For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found IN him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (this is the IN part) that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto 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.' (Philippians 3:1-12 KJV)


Rejoice IN the Lord.

Born of Water and of the Spirit

‘Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto Born of Water and of the Spirit John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he suffered him. And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: and lo a voice from heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.' 

(Matthew 3:13-4:1 KJV)

'Then the devil leaveth him (after he had resisted the tempter), and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.' (Matthew 4:11 KJV)

'From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, "Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." '(Matthew 4:17 KJV)

'There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. Jesus answered and said unto him, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." ' 

(John 3:1-6 KJV)

Recognize, receive and rejoice to know the hope of His calling.

In Many Things We Offend All

‘For in MANY things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.'

(James 3:2 KJV)

'Even so the tongue is a little member, and BOASTETH great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.' (James 3:5-8 KJV)

'Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about MUCH serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about MANY things: But ONE thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.' (Luke 10:38-42 KJV)

Sitting before Him, hearing His word, is the ONE THING that shall tame the tongue that offends.