Matthew 11:28 " Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest".
Carrying the weight, This is what Jesus did for the people in His day who carried the heavy weight of all the additional laws the religious leaders had added. They also carried the guilt of not being able to obey the law. Jesus came to relieve the people of these ridiculous rules. He has a yoke that is not legalistic and wearying. He tenderly gives an invitation that offers relief, rest, and joy for the weary.
The invitation, Jesus said "come" to him, Jesus invites the weary to come to Him so they can experience rest for their souls.The key to experiencing this rest is having a right relationship with God, something that can happen only if you have a personal relationship with Jesus. We all have responsibilities that drain us and difficulties that wear us down. We can let the world drag us down its weary path, or we can join our lives with Jesus, who wants us to know that He's eager to have us in His yoke of care, guiding us, giving us help for our present needs, and assuring us that He has a plan for us that includes rest and peace, with everlasting life.
So he tell us to come, leave where you are, the situation you are in and come to him. The promise is when you come to Him with everything he will give you rest. Rest from worry, from need, from doubt, rest from the cares of this world. The invitation has been extended, will you accept it?
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
An Example To Follow
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Integrity is a choice, in a society entertained and amused by deception, manipulation, seduction, and witchcraft, many people have convinced and even comforted themselves with the notion that they do not have a choice as to whether or not to engage in the same sins. When Elijah explained to God that he was the only God-worshiper who remained, God replied that "yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him."
Although many people are, not everyone is living a lie, a life of compromise. Let us not justify our sins by the presumption of everyone else is doing. Our example must be Christ and him alone.
Integrity is a choice, in a society entertained and amused by deception, manipulation, seduction, and witchcraft, many people have convinced and even comforted themselves with the notion that they do not have a choice as to whether or not to engage in the same sins. When Elijah explained to God that he was the only God-worshiper who remained, God replied that "yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him."
Although many people are, not everyone is living a lie, a life of compromise. Let us not justify our sins by the presumption of everyone else is doing. Our example must be Christ and him alone.
Christians are called to a higher standard of commitment and responsibility. Our bodies are God's temple, we bear the name of his only begotten son, dedicated solely to his service. In everything we do ,we must glorify God. We are called to a lifestyle that is higher than the world's. Using God's word as our guide for life, we build relationships of commitment, responsibility and trust, with integrity and truth. It is more important for us to know what is important to God, than to know how doing the right thing will benefits us directly. In a world where it seems it's "every man for himself " is there any benefit to living a righteous life? God says that living a life of integrity results in a fruitful life. Integrity in this sense means living a life of high moral principles, a life characterized by honesty, sincerity, and good judgment. Those who live a life of integrity do what's right even when they can get away with doing something else. They choose to do right when it is more convenient to do wrong.
Let us remember there are others who are following our lead. Let us walk as light houses in a dark world and not be stumbling blocks to others on this long journey. While we follow Christ let us be an encouragement for others to follow us.
Monday, April 27, 2015
Somebody's Watching You
Matthew 5:14 "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid".
Let your light so shine before man that they might see your good works and glorify your Father which art in heaven. We are children of the most high God, members of His household of faith, part of the body of Christ and as such, there is a way we are to live. There is a way that our position in Christ works itself out in our lives. There is a way Christ helps us deal with the trials, problems, difficulties and sufferings of the day to day living we face. The way He helps us to deal is in the way we walk as believers.
We are instructed to walk in a manner worthy of the name by which we are called. Effective witnessing is not just in what we say to the world in our words, but it is also in what the world sees in our walk. We live in a seeing is believing world, and if you truly want to be an effective witness, let your walk and talk both glorify the Lord. We are the light of the world. People are lead out of the dark when they see the light . Our walk does matter, it actually matters more than what we say, more people see you than hear you. Remember the old saying actions speak louder than words. It is easy to tell someone that God loves them, but to show the love of God, we must be active. We are the light of the world, so let those in darkness see your light, let them see your love one to another. Let them see the love of God spread abroad in your heart in your words and deeds. We are set upon a hill, the world is watching and no matter how small the light it can be seen by all in darkness. Let the world see your light shining.
No mater who your are in Christ your walk matters. There is someone following you on your journey. You are the bible they are reading, the picture of what they believe a Christian to be like, walk worthy of the name you bear. Be that light house and not a stumbling block, that a lost soul might seek Jesus the light of the world and be saved...
Let your light so shine before man that they might see your good works and glorify your Father which art in heaven. We are children of the most high God, members of His household of faith, part of the body of Christ and as such, there is a way we are to live. There is a way that our position in Christ works itself out in our lives. There is a way Christ helps us deal with the trials, problems, difficulties and sufferings of the day to day living we face. The way He helps us to deal is in the way we walk as believers.
We are instructed to walk in a manner worthy of the name by which we are called. Effective witnessing is not just in what we say to the world in our words, but it is also in what the world sees in our walk. We live in a seeing is believing world, and if you truly want to be an effective witness, let your walk and talk both glorify the Lord. We are the light of the world. People are lead out of the dark when they see the light . Our walk does matter, it actually matters more than what we say, more people see you than hear you. Remember the old saying actions speak louder than words. It is easy to tell someone that God loves them, but to show the love of God, we must be active. We are the light of the world, so let those in darkness see your light, let them see your love one to another. Let them see the love of God spread abroad in your heart in your words and deeds. We are set upon a hill, the world is watching and no matter how small the light it can be seen by all in darkness. Let the world see your light shining.
No mater who your are in Christ your walk matters. There is someone following you on your journey. You are the bible they are reading, the picture of what they believe a Christian to be like, walk worthy of the name you bear. Be that light house and not a stumbling block, that a lost soul might seek Jesus the light of the world and be saved...
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Love One To Another
Philippians 2:4 "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others".
What difference has God made in our life? Do all Christians talk and act the same? No. But we should all have a love for God first of all, and then love for one another. The sweetness Christians experience in knowing Jesus as Savior and all the good he brings into our lives, inevitably reflects in our relationships. Paul asked the believers at Philippi," Has being a follower of Jesus Christ made any difference in your life? Has the fact that he loves you with an everlasting love caused you to make different life choices? Have you experienced the Holy Spirit's presence and enjoyed being a part of this glorious unified body? Is Christ's love flowing in, out, and through this unified body with tenderness and lots of mercy?"
If you answered yes to any of these questions ,then you should spend more time talking about the things we have in common, than our differences. We should love each other unconditionally, strive for unity in all we do by lifting up Christ. All have sinned and come short of God's glory, the enemy wants us to focus on the short comings which lie in all of us. But Jesus is the one thing we have in common and it is through him and by him that we are perfected even with our shortcomings, so when we lift Jesus up in the lives of others, we have all things common. We should be thrilled to the heart to lead people to the Lord, and then see them interacting and developing deep, caring, and lasting friendships, as their walk with Christ becomes stronger.
The Body of Christ can only become unified,loving, and like-minded when we care for the interest of others as much as we do our own.
What difference has God made in our life? Do all Christians talk and act the same? No. But we should all have a love for God first of all, and then love for one another. The sweetness Christians experience in knowing Jesus as Savior and all the good he brings into our lives, inevitably reflects in our relationships. Paul asked the believers at Philippi," Has being a follower of Jesus Christ made any difference in your life? Has the fact that he loves you with an everlasting love caused you to make different life choices? Have you experienced the Holy Spirit's presence and enjoyed being a part of this glorious unified body? Is Christ's love flowing in, out, and through this unified body with tenderness and lots of mercy?"
If you answered yes to any of these questions ,then you should spend more time talking about the things we have in common, than our differences. We should love each other unconditionally, strive for unity in all we do by lifting up Christ. All have sinned and come short of God's glory, the enemy wants us to focus on the short comings which lie in all of us. But Jesus is the one thing we have in common and it is through him and by him that we are perfected even with our shortcomings, so when we lift Jesus up in the lives of others, we have all things common. We should be thrilled to the heart to lead people to the Lord, and then see them interacting and developing deep, caring, and lasting friendships, as their walk with Christ becomes stronger.
The Body of Christ can only become unified,loving, and like-minded when we care for the interest of others as much as we do our own.
Friday, April 24, 2015
Have You Believed
Romans 10:16 "But they have not all obeyed the Gospel, For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report" ?
Many tend to believe that to obey God is optional. We tend to obey and disobey freely as we feel. We act as though the word of God, the person of God, and the spirit of God are contrary one to another. We profess to being born of the spirit of God, yet we disobey the word of God, and live contrary to the person of God, while claiming to be a child of God. Isaiah ask simply who hath believed our report.
The truth is the gospel comes with the force of a command, it is not optional for us to accept or refuse the gospel at our pleasure. (Acts 17:30) tells us " God now commandeth all men every where to repent". He commands them to repent and believe the gospel (mark 1:15). To refuse to believe is to incur a great sin (John 16:8). There is a death penalty attached to disobedience. As the prodigal son was right in returning to his father, so would it be right for each of us to return to our father through our obedience to the gospel. The gospel calls us to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, to renounce unrighteousness and confess our guilt. We must repent and be obedient to both the teaching and the example of Christ. This is how we show that we believe the report. There are way to many who say with their mouths they believe, but the life many live is one of doubt and disbelief.
The design of the gospel is to bring us into a union with the Son of God and to believe on him whom the father hath sent. Christ seeks to gather in souls for the Father, but through our disobedience we refuse to be gathered. To disobey the gospel is far worse than to break the law. For disobedience to the law, there is a remedy in the gospel, but for disobedience to the gospel no remedy can be found, for there is no more sacrifice for sin. Let us obey the gospel, this obedience is a grace of great value, and is a great force on the whole man; for when the obedience is in the heart it works a conforming to the whole will of God. Be it life or death,one word from God will command the whole soul as soon as obedience has found admittance into the heart.
Monday, April 20, 2015
In Obedience To God
Genesis 12:1 "Now the Lord said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:"
Abram chose to follow God. It challenges us to this day to obey God's call wherever He leads,what ever the cost. Why do we hesitate? Is that addiction really worth holding onto?Is living in a comfort-zone cocoon what we were made for? Is anger or indulgence or fear or pride or worldliness in the way of our whole hearted obedience?
Abram chose to follow God. It challenges us to this day to obey God's call wherever He leads,what ever the cost. Why do we hesitate? Is that addiction really worth holding onto?Is living in a comfort-zone cocoon what we were made for? Is anger or indulgence or fear or pride or worldliness in the way of our whole hearted obedience?
No matter what challenges we may meet in choosing to obey God's call,there will never be lasting regrets.Why? Because God's faithfulness will prevail in our lives every time we trust His leadership.In fact even while"counting the cost" of following God,we can be assured that any sacrifices we may make along our way,whether real or imagined,will ultimately be eclipsed by the blessings of His love for us in this life and beyond. For example, turning from destructive habits to follow God's call leads us into freedom,peace, and often literally adds years to our lives.Letting go of our most prized and precious possessions in this life to follow our Lord carries with it the promise of eternal life as well as spritual blessings we never could have imagined.As we turn our hearts to follow the lead of God's Spirit, we are set free from the fear of other people's opinions, and we become courageous vessels for carrying the Gospel and speaking the truth, finding our delight in God's approval on our lives.These are just a few of the many ways God calls us to follow Him into the blessing of His presence as well as His promises.
Remember obedience is better than sacrifice.
Saturday, April 18, 2015
Our Power Source
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is quick, and powerful,and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and the joints and morrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart:"
This word is revealing, a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart, revealing even the most secret thoughts and design. This word will turn a sinner inside out, and let him see all that is in his heart, turning a sinner into a saint. The word of God, our power, our sword. Jesus Christ, the power of God unto salvation
It is a living and incorruptable seed which can never be destroyed. It is powerful; it powerfully convicts,converts,comforts and It pulls down strong holds.It has the power to raise us to great heights of holiness and happiness. His word is sharpe, it cuts all over, it cuts and wounds all who touch it; it kills self righteousness,sin and unbelief cutting going out and comming in.It cuts deep removing sinful habits away from the soul, that have become the nature of sinful man.It cuts ignorance from understanding,rebillion from the will, and hostility from the mind.It's piercing, forcing its way into the heart of man thru the smallest of opening even the dividing soul and spirit. Precision cuts, dividing the joints and marrow without damaging the bone. This word will cut the lust from the flesh, and like a lazor will remove the lust from the eye.
His word judges our thoughts, works, actions and everything about us,that we might experience his peace and enter his everlasting rest and salvation.The help we have from the Lord is his word, our sword,and power, but we must first reverence the word truly as spoken by God. Then his word is quick,and quicking it is life and it creates life wherever it comes. It is a living and incorruptable seed which can never be destroyed
Friday, April 17, 2015
Come To Jesus
Matthew 11:28 " Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden,and I will give you rest".
Jesus wants us to cast all of our cares,concerns, problems, and our circumstances on Him, that we might receive His rest, enter into His peace, a peace which surpasses all understanding.
Jesus invites the weary to come to Him so they can experience rest for their souls. The key to this rest is having a right relationship with God, something that can happen only if you have a personal relationship with Jesus. We all have responsibilities that drain us and difficulties that wear us down. We can let the world drag us down its weary path, or we can join our lives with Jesus, who wants us to know that He's eager to have us in His yoke of care, guiding us, giving us help for our present needs, and assuring us that He has a plan for us that includes rest and peace, with everlasting life.
So he tell us to come, leave where you are, the situation you are in and come to him. The promise is when you come to Him with everything he will give you rest. Rest from worry, from need, from doubt, rest from the cares of this world ,for he said" seek ye first the kingdom of God", before you seek a job, a husband, a way out , a way in, before you do anything seek Him, come to him and He will give you rest. The invitation has been extended, will you accept it?
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
A Message Of Hope
Zechariah 10:6 "And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; For I have mercy upon them:and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them".
Hope can come to sinners: God says "I have mercy upon them". Mercy abides in the heart of God even after the hope of it has left the heart of man. God's mercy is coming, and it has come to all who will accept it."Behold he prayeth" is the sure indication of coming deliverance (acts.9:11). God has observed prayer in them, for he said,"I will hear them". The result of mercy coming is exceedingly delightful: "They shall be as though I had not cast them off". This promise may be applied to all penitent sinners, and the wayward backsliders. God's mercy in many ways restores men to their lost positions, and in some cases to the pristine condition they had before the fall.
Let us look at the power of God's mercy; the forgiveness of sin, and justification by faith, makes us acceptable in God's sight.The renovation of our nature, by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit, creates a man of righteousness, turning a sinner to a child of God. We are restored to paradise, as we dwell in God's blessed state, God's mercy destroys sin, but it saves the sinner. We have redemption from the curse, the curse is gone from us, taken by Him who was made a curse for us, removing the anger of God from us forever.We are employed in God service, a living testimony to the redeeming mercy of God. We have communion with our Savior and have the promise of eternal life, all in His mercy.
Let us who have received this precious gift take and share it with a lost world, that all might have hope and receive the free gift of salvation.
Monday, April 13, 2015
In Christ Alone
Psalm 105:4 " Seek the Lord, and His strength: seek His face evermore".
Jesus died that we might have life, but many don't believe we can live a holy life. Man has fallen and some say he can't get up. But Jesus tells us He has power over all flesh, and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. The truth is, our strength is in Christ and Christ alone.
This journey is impossible without the strength and power of the Lord. God gave us His only begotten Son to provide us with everything we need to accomplish all that He commands us to do. It is in Jesus that we can overcome the world. It is in Christ that we have the power to stand against any weapon the enemy tries to use against us. It is in Christ that we have the power and the will to deny our self daily, take up our cross and follow the Lord of glory. We must at all times acknowledge Him in all our ways and let Him direct our paths. In Him is our victory over all that comes before us because Jesus never fails.
Seek the Lord and His strength. We must seek Him in all that we do. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. When we truly come to the understanding that it is not about us, and without Him we can do nothing, then we will be able to live victoriously in this world, as we behold the Lord and the power of His Christ.
Jesus died that we might have life, but many don't believe we can live a holy life. Man has fallen and some say he can't get up. But Jesus tells us He has power over all flesh, and we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. The truth is, our strength is in Christ and Christ alone.
This journey is impossible without the strength and power of the Lord. God gave us His only begotten Son to provide us with everything we need to accomplish all that He commands us to do. It is in Jesus that we can overcome the world. It is in Christ that we have the power to stand against any weapon the enemy tries to use against us. It is in Christ that we have the power and the will to deny our self daily, take up our cross and follow the Lord of glory. We must at all times acknowledge Him in all our ways and let Him direct our paths. In Him is our victory over all that comes before us because Jesus never fails.
Seek the Lord and His strength. We must seek Him in all that we do. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. When we truly come to the understanding that it is not about us, and without Him we can do nothing, then we will be able to live victoriously in this world, as we behold the Lord and the power of His Christ.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
As I Loved You
John 15:12 "This is my commandment. That ye love one another, as I have loved you".
It is so easy now a days to find a reason not to love. We live in a world that has become divided by race, religion, national origin, sexual preference, and political parties. We tend to hate anything and anyone who don't agree with us or who isn't like us. In a country that was built on differences it is sad that the thing that made us a great nation is now the same thing which is tearing us apart. But that is to be expected from the world, but the sad thing is, this attitude and state of mind is now becoming the beliefs of those who profess to be Christians.
We who profess to have been born of the spirit of God were born to be lovers and not haters. When you profess to be Christ like you give up the right to hate any man. You cannot love God and hate that which He created and died for. We can disagree with the policies, opinions, ways and decisions others might make, we can hate the sinful acts one might commit, we can go so far as not to believe what they believe, but we don't have the right to hate them. Jesus said the world would know we are His by our love one for another. It is not hard to see why the world can't see a difference between the self professed Christian and the out right sinner, as both tend to speak hatred.
Let us who profess to know the Lord love like we know Him that the world might learn to love. Jesus told us, we the born again blood washed baptized believers to love ye one another, then He qualified it by saying as I have loved you.
It is so easy now a days to find a reason not to love. We live in a world that has become divided by race, religion, national origin, sexual preference, and political parties. We tend to hate anything and anyone who don't agree with us or who isn't like us. In a country that was built on differences it is sad that the thing that made us a great nation is now the same thing which is tearing us apart. But that is to be expected from the world, but the sad thing is, this attitude and state of mind is now becoming the beliefs of those who profess to be Christians.
We who profess to have been born of the spirit of God were born to be lovers and not haters. When you profess to be Christ like you give up the right to hate any man. You cannot love God and hate that which He created and died for. We can disagree with the policies, opinions, ways and decisions others might make, we can hate the sinful acts one might commit, we can go so far as not to believe what they believe, but we don't have the right to hate them. Jesus said the world would know we are His by our love one for another. It is not hard to see why the world can't see a difference between the self professed Christian and the out right sinner, as both tend to speak hatred.
Let us who profess to know the Lord love like we know Him that the world might learn to love. Jesus told us, we the born again blood washed baptized believers to love ye one another, then He qualified it by saying as I have loved you.
Friday, April 10, 2015
Called To Be Holy
Proverbs 11:3 "The integrity of the upright shall guide them:but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them."
Integrity is a choice,in a society entertained and amused by deception, manipulation, seduction, and witchcraft. Many people are convinced that they do not have a choice as to whether or not to engage in sins. But we are called to lead the world, not follow it. When Elijah explained to God that he was the only God-worshiper who remained, God said that He has seven thousand in Israel whose knees have not bowed unto Baal.
Integrity is a choice,in a society entertained and amused by deception, manipulation, seduction, and witchcraft. Many people are convinced that they do not have a choice as to whether or not to engage in sins. But we are called to lead the world, not follow it. When Elijah explained to God that he was the only God-worshiper who remained, God said that He has seven thousand in Israel whose knees have not bowed unto Baal.
Although many people are, not everyone is living a lie, or a life of compromise. It is unwise for us to justify our sins by the presumption that everyone is sinning. Our example must be Christ and him alone. Christians are called to a higher standard of commitment and responsibility. Our bodies are God's temple, we bear the name of his only begotten son,and are dedicated solely to his service. In everything we do, we must glorify God.We are called to a lifestyle that is higher than the world's. Using God's word as our guide for life, we build relationships of commitment, responsibility and trust, all with integrity and truth.We are a recommendation for Christ, and must live accordingly. It is more important for us to know what is important to God, than to know how doing the right thing will benifits us directly.
God says that living a life of integrity results in a fruitful life. Integrity in this sense means living a life of high moral principles, a life characterized by honesty, sincerity, and good judgment. Those who live a life of integrity do what's right even when they can get away with doing something else. They choose to do right when it is more convient to do wrong.They are called to be ye holy.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
The Truth Shall Make You Free
Galatians 5:9 "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump"
Know the truth and obey the truth,"for a little leaven(untruth) corrupts the whole lump. Leaven stands for for evil corruption, fermentation and infection. It takes only a little leaven to permeate and influence the whole lump of dough. So it is with false teachers. One false teacher, can inject his false teaching into the church and it will soon permeate and influence the whole church. If we don't root out the false teachers and clean out the false doctrine, the truth would soon be destroyed. Anything being taught that is not in the bible is not God's revelation, but man's imagination.
This Is dangerous as Jesus Christ would no longer be the focus of attention.The congregation would begin to focus on rituals,ceremonies, and good works instead of Christ.They would begin to try and approach God through their own selfrighteousness and merit, with Jesus Christ being placed on the back burner, and out of sight. His prominence and the absolute necessity of His righteousness and death would be downplayed.This is always the case when false teaching is allowed in the Church,or when the church leadership is lifted higher than the great head of the Church.This is sometimes done unaware, how many times do you refer to the church you attend by the name of your pastor or bishop.We must first know the truth ,to obey the truth.
This Christian life is a race, and Paul told the Galatians that they had been running the race well, having believed in Christ, they had been living for Christ and sharing the good news of Christ. They worshipped and served him with a great zeal.There had been nothing fake about them ,they were not Sunday morning Christians, but someone had stepped in with a false doctrine that begin to hinder their run. But knowing the truth Paul was confident they could overcome and get back on track by turning back to Jesus Christ, the truth of God's word.
Know the truth and obey the truth,"for a little leaven(untruth) corrupts the whole lump. Leaven stands for for evil corruption, fermentation and infection. It takes only a little leaven to permeate and influence the whole lump of dough. So it is with false teachers. One false teacher, can inject his false teaching into the church and it will soon permeate and influence the whole church. If we don't root out the false teachers and clean out the false doctrine, the truth would soon be destroyed. Anything being taught that is not in the bible is not God's revelation, but man's imagination.
This Is dangerous as Jesus Christ would no longer be the focus of attention.The congregation would begin to focus on rituals,ceremonies, and good works instead of Christ.They would begin to try and approach God through their own selfrighteousness and merit, with Jesus Christ being placed on the back burner, and out of sight. His prominence and the absolute necessity of His righteousness and death would be downplayed.This is always the case when false teaching is allowed in the Church,or when the church leadership is lifted higher than the great head of the Church.This is sometimes done unaware, how many times do you refer to the church you attend by the name of your pastor or bishop.We must first know the truth ,to obey the truth.
This Christian life is a race, and Paul told the Galatians that they had been running the race well, having believed in Christ, they had been living for Christ and sharing the good news of Christ. They worshipped and served him with a great zeal.There had been nothing fake about them ,they were not Sunday morning Christians, but someone had stepped in with a false doctrine that begin to hinder their run. But knowing the truth Paul was confident they could overcome and get back on track by turning back to Jesus Christ, the truth of God's word.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
The Unity Of Love
Luke 6:27 "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you;"
Jesus commands us to pray for and bless those that offend us. Our natural response is to strike back when mistreated, but Jesus teaches us to do the opposite. Jesus gave two illustrations to show the extent of how far our love for others should go, there is a blow to the face and stolen clothes, in such cases we are not retaliate. The purpose is to reach out in love instead of satisfying ourselves through revenge.
Our love must be strong and purposeful in accepting mistreatment, as it shows our trust in the Lord and his ability to use the situation for his Glory. Jesus not only taught us our love must be strong and purposeful when mistreated, but we must also be merciful to others in our daily lives, as the Father daily pours out new mercy on us. The standard of sacrificial love goes beyond what others might do or what we might feel we should do, it is what Jesus teaches us to do, it is what he did. The prime example of selfless giving is our heavenly Father himself, who showed kindness to all humanity as he gave his only begotten son that we might have everlasting life.
When we love others the way Jesus instructed us to, we show the world we are his. Let us love one another as Christ has loved us.
Jesus commands us to pray for and bless those that offend us. Our natural response is to strike back when mistreated, but Jesus teaches us to do the opposite. Jesus gave two illustrations to show the extent of how far our love for others should go, there is a blow to the face and stolen clothes, in such cases we are not retaliate. The purpose is to reach out in love instead of satisfying ourselves through revenge.
Our love must be strong and purposeful in accepting mistreatment, as it shows our trust in the Lord and his ability to use the situation for his Glory. Jesus not only taught us our love must be strong and purposeful when mistreated, but we must also be merciful to others in our daily lives, as the Father daily pours out new mercy on us. The standard of sacrificial love goes beyond what others might do or what we might feel we should do, it is what Jesus teaches us to do, it is what he did. The prime example of selfless giving is our heavenly Father himself, who showed kindness to all humanity as he gave his only begotten son that we might have everlasting life.
When we love others the way Jesus instructed us to, we show the world we are his. Let us love one another as Christ has loved us.
Monday, April 6, 2015
Walk In The Light
Ephesians 5:8 "For ye were sometimes darkness,but now are ye light in the Lord:walk as children of Light."
There are two walks through life available to all men.There is the life and walk of darkness, or the life and walk of light.There is a world of difference between the two,in fact your eternity is determined by which life or walk you pursue.We all at one time or another journeyed on the walk of darkness.We were all lost, a child of disobedience,a rebeller against God.In fact the bible tells us "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God".We are not whose we use to be.
We now profess to be children of the light, no longer children of the dark,so we are not to walk as others walk.We are new creatures in Christ Jesus,and the walk of darkness is not pleasing unto God.So the things we use to do ,we shouldn't do them anymore.We shouldn't walk in the vanity of our own minds.Thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought,having a dark understanding blinded by the god's of this world to the to the truth and power of the one true and living God. Through Jesus we have been reconciled to God, no longer the children of disobedience, rebelling against God.We are now through Christ children of the light. Jesus is the light of the world and whosoever follows him shall not walk in darkness , but shall have the light of life.Christ not only shows us the light but he made us the light.We are the light of the eternal God in the mist of a world of darkness, therefore we are to walk as children of the light.
There are two walks through life available to all men.There is the life and walk of darkness, or the life and walk of light.There is a world of difference between the two,in fact your eternity is determined by which life or walk you pursue.We all at one time or another journeyed on the walk of darkness.We were all lost, a child of disobedience,a rebeller against God.In fact the bible tells us "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God".We are not whose we use to be.
We now profess to be children of the light, no longer children of the dark,so we are not to walk as others walk.We are new creatures in Christ Jesus,and the walk of darkness is not pleasing unto God.So the things we use to do ,we shouldn't do them anymore.We shouldn't walk in the vanity of our own minds.Thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought,having a dark understanding blinded by the god's of this world to the to the truth and power of the one true and living God. Through Jesus we have been reconciled to God, no longer the children of disobedience, rebelling against God.We are now through Christ children of the light. Jesus is the light of the world and whosoever follows him shall not walk in darkness , but shall have the light of life.Christ not only shows us the light but he made us the light.We are the light of the eternal God in the mist of a world of darkness, therefore we are to walk as children of the light.
We cannot be walking with Christ and walk in darkness. Jesus is the light of the world and light and darkness cannot exist in the same place at the same time. Let us walk in the light of the Lord
Saturday, April 4, 2015
He Did It For Me
John 19:30 " When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said "It is Finished: and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost".
The single most significant event in history is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. We are saved by His death; because he died we can live. However there is a condition, we must believe. In Jesus death, justice received the wage paid by sin, for the soul that sinneth, shall surely die. Someone had to die and Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for an imperfect people. Because of our sin, He died...
Here we have Jesus on the cross, it was a cross that He bore, and He willingly went forth. Pilate delivered Him, the soldiers led Him, but Jesus bore the cross and went forth. He was not a victim, He was a victor, for He was bearing the cross to save man. He was crucified between two sinners, two unjust thieves. He was surrounded by a world of unjust men, yet we live because He died. He said it is finished, all that is needed for man to be reconciled back to God had now been completed. He had given sight to blind eyes, so man could see the love of God. He had cured the lunatic, that we might let this mind be in us that is in Christ Jesus. He put hearing in deaf ears that we could hear what thus said the Lord. He put speaking in dumb lips, that we could proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. He put standing in lame legs that we might walk in the righteousness of His spirit, and he raised the dead that we might have a new life in Christ. Hanging from the cross, He said it is finished.
Jesus died that all might have a right to the tree of life, but we must believe and receive His death as our own that we might be raise up as a new creature in Christ. Let us walk in this new life that a lost world will come to know what we already know; He died............
The single most significant event in history is the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. We are saved by His death; because he died we can live. However there is a condition, we must believe. In Jesus death, justice received the wage paid by sin, for the soul that sinneth, shall surely die. Someone had to die and Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for an imperfect people. Because of our sin, He died...
Here we have Jesus on the cross, it was a cross that He bore, and He willingly went forth. Pilate delivered Him, the soldiers led Him, but Jesus bore the cross and went forth. He was not a victim, He was a victor, for He was bearing the cross to save man. He was crucified between two sinners, two unjust thieves. He was surrounded by a world of unjust men, yet we live because He died. He said it is finished, all that is needed for man to be reconciled back to God had now been completed. He had given sight to blind eyes, so man could see the love of God. He had cured the lunatic, that we might let this mind be in us that is in Christ Jesus. He put hearing in deaf ears that we could hear what thus said the Lord. He put speaking in dumb lips, that we could proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. He put standing in lame legs that we might walk in the righteousness of His spirit, and he raised the dead that we might have a new life in Christ. Hanging from the cross, He said it is finished.
Jesus died that all might have a right to the tree of life, but we must believe and receive His death as our own that we might be raise up as a new creature in Christ. Let us walk in this new life that a lost world will come to know what we already know; He died............
Friday, April 3, 2015
For My Sins And Yours
Romans 6:23"For the wages of sin is death;But the gift of God is eternal life,through Jesus Christ our Lord."
God sent his only begotten son into the world, that through him ,we might be saved. We have been blessed God didn't give us what we deserved, or what we wanted, but out of his love for us, he gave us what we needed, for we were lost in sin.
Man was in a miserable condition, working hard for sin and in sin. Some of us are still employed by sin, working overtime and double shifts, living sin full lives, unaware of the payday that lies straight ahead. The compensation for sin is death. Yes sin pays a wage to all who work for it. The wage paid is death. Death is due to a sinner when his work is complete. This is true of every sinner, every person who has refused to make Jesus their choice, the wage they will be paid is death. But the gift of God is eternal life. Eternal life, no infirmities to hinder him, no death to put a period to it, just life everlasting with our Heavenly Father.
Death is the wage of sin and it comes by abandoning and forsaking our savior, but the life is a gift, it comes by favor, without respect of person. We work for the wage paid by sin, but life is freely given. Sinners merit hell, it is what they are working for, but saints do not merit heaven, you can't work for it, you can't buy your way in, it is a gift from God, to all who believes, through Jesus Christ our Lord. He accepted for us the wage paid by sin, and He is our precious gift from God.
God sent his only begotten son into the world, that through him ,we might be saved. We have been blessed God didn't give us what we deserved, or what we wanted, but out of his love for us, he gave us what we needed, for we were lost in sin.
Man was in a miserable condition, working hard for sin and in sin. Some of us are still employed by sin, working overtime and double shifts, living sin full lives, unaware of the payday that lies straight ahead. The compensation for sin is death. Yes sin pays a wage to all who work for it. The wage paid is death. Death is due to a sinner when his work is complete. This is true of every sinner, every person who has refused to make Jesus their choice, the wage they will be paid is death. But the gift of God is eternal life. Eternal life, no infirmities to hinder him, no death to put a period to it, just life everlasting with our Heavenly Father.
Death is the wage of sin and it comes by abandoning and forsaking our savior, but the life is a gift, it comes by favor, without respect of person. We work for the wage paid by sin, but life is freely given. Sinners merit hell, it is what they are working for, but saints do not merit heaven, you can't work for it, you can't buy your way in, it is a gift from God, to all who believes, through Jesus Christ our Lord. He accepted for us the wage paid by sin, and He is our precious gift from God.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
On His Way To The Grave
John 17:4 "I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do".
"Verily, Verily I say unto you ,except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die it bringeth forth much fruit". Here is Jesus at the end of His earthly ministry, on his way to the grave and he said his soul is troubled. But for this hour he was sent, for He was the only way to redeem lost man back to a Holy God. For this purpose he came into the world. On His way to the grave He went through something's for our behalf. He was met with conflicts and confrontations, he was alienated, persecuted, and rejected, yet he endured to the grave for our salvation. Look what Jesus did on His way to the grave.
On His way to the grave he glorified the Father. He gave sight to blind eyes, so now man could see that he was lost and in need of a savior. He had put hearing in deaf ears ,so man could hear what thus said the Lord. He put speaking in the mouth of the dumb, so man could share the good news of the gospel. He put strength in the legs of the lame, so man could stand firm on God's word and walk in His righteousness. He called the dead back to life, so now man could live in a newness of life as he was no longer dead in sin. On His way to the grave Jesus paved the way for lost man to be found, to be saved and to live in eternal glory. Jesus willingly laid down His life that we might know his love, receive his mercy and live in His grace. Jesus obedient unto death that we might be obedient unto Life everlasting, all on His way to the grave. Jesus died that we might have life and life more abundantly.
All that Jesus went through was for our good ,not his. He was whipped for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. On His way to the grave and Jesus saw you, and loved you, and he died for you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)