Sequestration (n): Law—the act of removing (property) temporarily from the possession of the owner; seize and hold, as the property and income of a debtor, until legal claims are satisfied.

"for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world...

"Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers."

~Philippians 2:13-15, 2 Timothy 2:14

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins."

~2 Peter 1:3-9

"You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him."

~2 Timothy 2:1-4

In approximately two more months, our youngest son will be graduating from high school, receiving a diploma, then moving onto college, where he'll graduate and receive a degree...and so on.

1. Person-hood (conception-death): is achieved as soon as we are conceived and we're completely dependent on our mother's love, care and protection in accordance with God's word (Ps 127:3; Prov 6:16-19);
   
   
2. Infant-hood (birth-2 years): is achieved when God decides we're ready to live outside of our mother's wombs, where we require our parents to provide all the love, food, protection and care necessary for us to thrive physically and spiritually (Deut 6:4-9);
   
   
3. Toddler-hood (2-5 years): is achieved when we move from our mother's milk, to eating solid food, from crawling to walking, from crying to using words as a form of communication—this is the time when we first begin to understand the Ten Commandments and godly teaching our parents provide, in the hopes that one day, we too may know Christ and be known by Him (Philippians 3:8-9);
   
   
4. Child-hood (5-12 years): is achieved when we're able to participate in formal education and learn to consider others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3)—begin hiding God's word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him, and learn the fundamentals of Christianity with the ability to begin working out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12-14);
   
   
5. Young adult-hood (12-18 years): is achieved when we've graduated high school and are able to move onto higher forms of education, learning and maturing both before the sight on man and God (Luke 2:42, 52; Eph 4:11-15—more firmly understanding who we are in Christ, we pursue to live with excellence and holiness unto the Lord.
   
   
6. Adult-hood (18 years-death): is achieved when we have learned to take responsibility for ourselves and are able to be responsible for at least, one other person—continuing to mature as we faithfully bear the fruit of repentance and bear good fruit in the name of Christ, growing in the grace and knowledge of Him who alone is the Savior for all mankind (Acts 4:11-12; Col 1:9-14).

"Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

~Colossians 3:22-24

"Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you."

~Philippians 3:12-15

"Now it happened that as He [Jesus] was praying alone, the disciples were with Him. And He asked them, 'Who do the crowds say that I am?' And they answered, 'John the Baptist. But others say, Elijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.' Then He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' And Peter answered, 'The Christ of God.'"

~Luke 9:18-20

1. Am I reading Scripture to know God more only so I can love Him better? (Ex 34:5-7; Mk 12:30)
2. Am I reading Scripture only to feel good or to be good? (Ps 55:20-21; 2 Tim 4:3-4)
3. Am I reading Scripture to understand God's point of view or prove my point of view? (Jer 9:23-24)

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!"

~Psalm 139:23-24