Evidence of Love?

John 14:15 "If you love me keep my commandmants".

We all confess that we love the Lord, but do we really?Do we love him with all our heart or with all our wants?I know with my wife I will go out of my way not to offened or upset her,doing everything I promised so as not to hurt her because I love my wife.Yet there are time,just being honest,that I do things that go against God and his word,not concerned if I am hurting him or not.Now I know I'm not the only one who tends to live my life based more on God's love for me than my love for God,but for the sake of not making someone mad, I will talk about my on shortcomings.

What does it mean to truly love God?Well Jesus said "if you love me keep my commandments".Now even though I know and profess that I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me, when it comes to keeping Jesus commandments I often fall very short.But if I truly love Him,shouldn't his needs wants and desires should come before mine.His purpose for my life should be my main focus.He told us to take His yoke ,for it is easy,and his commandments are to "Love the Lord thy God with all our hearts ,soul and mind, and to love our neighbor as our self".Now if God is as good to me as I claim, how hard can it be to love him,and in loving him I should love those he died for.Sometimes it seems that I put more love,care and preparation in my jobs, homes, cars, clothes, hair,nails, grocery list,and our weekend plans than I do in my love for God. If I kept my wedding vows the same way I keep Jesus commandments my  wife would have left long ago.If I worked my job, the way I work for God I would be fired.If I paid my bills the way I pay my tithes and give my offerings I would be homeless and walking.

Now I don't do most of the things listed,my walk with Christ though not perfect, it is much better than this, but there are some who are walking this weak.The important thing is to realize our short coming and as God to help us,and the strong to bear the infirmities of the weak.Let us pray that we all learn to love the lord better.

What If?

2 Chronicles 7:14 " If my people,which are called by my name,shall humble themselves,and pray,and seek my face,and turn from their wicked ways;then will I hear from heaven,and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land".

What if the whole world was saved? What if everybody truly believed in their heart the Lord Jesus, and confessed with their mouth that God raised him from the dead.What If we truly loved the Lord thy God with all our heart soul and might,and loved our neighbor as our self.What if there truly was no difference between the Jew and the Gentile; the Baptist and the COGIC,what if the Catholic and the protestant. truly overcame their differences and walked as one.What if we truly believed " One Lord, One Faith and One Baptism".What if we truly loved one another as Christ has loved us,the world could be saved.Jesus said "and I ,If I be lifted up from the earth,will draw all men unto me",What if we really lifted Him in all that we do,not just the words we say.If we did these things from our hearts,God says he would hear from heaven ,forgive our sins and heal the land.

Here we have a very popularily quoted scripture.The thing is dosn't seem to be anything more than lip service to those who claim to be called by his name.Now I know many will stop reading at this point, but God says "If my people" would do what I have asked of them then will I forgive their sins and heal their land.Well from what I see the land isn't heald,so since I know God can't lie, that would mean we are not doing our part consistantly. Jesus also said if he was lifted up all men would be drawed unto Him, yet their are still a many wondering in darkness,and since I know Jesus is the truth of God word, then it must mean we are not lifting Him up, in all our ways all the time to everyone we see.Now don't get me wrong there are many who truly are doing as much as they can,and all they can.But what if? What if we could truly be honest with ourselves and say we could do more, we could love more, we could care more, we could forgive, and give more.What if we were honest enough to say we sometimes get caught up in the prosperity, power,and prestige of this old world and we put our own ambitions and desires above the will and instructions of God.What if we realized we are not half the saint we claim to be and closer to being the sinner we try to denounce.

What if we were one body with one purpose, walking in a spirit of oneness and proclaiming  one message,Christ and Him Crucified,In one love,the world then could be saved.What If?

Do You Hear Me Now?

John 11:27 "My sheep hear my voice,and I know them,and they follow me:"

Yes Jesus loves me; He is the good shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep.But the fact that he is the good shepherd, means there are some bad shepherds out there.The world has shepherds ,who have no love for the sheep. They don't pray for them, they prey on them.They don't feed them, they feed off them, they are the bad shepherd.God has given us a shepherd to protect and lead us,who has inspired and strengthened countless Christians throughout the years, to continue their journey up the narrow road.In a world full of  flashy signs, misleading many to travel down the broad road of material pleasures and innumerable pains, it is easy to forget that we have a Shepherd who calls us to follow him to "High Places." Too many loud sounds and too many beckoning voices compete with His words that speak to both our hearts and minds.

What must we do?First, we must step back from our engagement with the world.(We must come from among the world and its joys and toys.)Then we must fall on our knees and listen only to our Lord. Finally, we must follow His lead.We cannot do this once a year, occasionally,or every once in a while,and hope to find ourselves someday at those High Places with Him.Saints the enemy is not going to stop because you decided to make Jesus your choice.Everyday we must deny ourself, take up our cross, and follow the good shepherd. It has to be more than just a daily routine, our following Him must be a committment, a constant and integral part of our lives. (Christianity is not a religion, it is a way of life, it's what we've become, not what we do.) And when it becomes so, not only will it become a natural thing to do, but also we will recognize His voice more easily each time He speaks to us.

Our shepherd loves us and want to take us to High Places, but He won't drag us there.And we can't get there just because we wish to be there.(No matter what they thought,believed,or wanted, when the flood came, all outside the ark drowned.Are you on the outside of the Ark?)We must listen to Him, and we must obey His directions, He is "The Good Shepherd".

The Ways of A Kept Man!

Psalm 91:11 "For he shall give his angels charge over thee,to keep thee in all thy ways".

The Lord gave his people shelter in the time of pestilence,for he had promised,"There shall no evil befall thee;neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling". This is the promise from the passover of those who dwell in God.After the passover came a journey to Canaan;and the promise of the covenant angel and his keeping them in all there ways.

We too are pilgrims on our way to Canaan. He who set us free by the Passover deliverance also provides for our journey to the land which flows with milk and honey.The entire journey to the promise land is protected by our deliever,as he has promised to keep us in all our ways.There are ways which are not protected for they are not in my promise."All thy ways" are mentioned, but there are some ways that are not to be followed by Children of God,which are not our ways.The ways of presumption,for in these many court danger as they defy God.The ways of sin,dishonesty, lying, vice,conforming to the ways of this world are also ways which are not our ways.The ways of worldliness,greed, selfishness, the ways by which men seek personal ambitions are usually dark and crooked and not of God.The ways in which safety is guaranteed are the ways of humble faith in the Lord Jesus.The way of obedience to His devine precepts.The way of child like trust,the way strict principle, stern integrity, of holy separation, and consecrated service.Seeking God's glory in all we do as we walk with God every where we go. While we travel in these ways all believers are secure.

God promises to protect us and keep all who go the way of the Lord.Jesus Christ is the way,and when we choose to go His way we are a kept people.He leads us,he guide us,he directs us, provides for us,  and He protects us.In Christ I amd a kept man. 

Faith or Worry!

Matthew 6:27 "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his statue?"
1Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him;for he careth for you."

Worry, not football is the great american pastime.Anxiety runs high in this country,and Jesus gave us several reasons why and what to do about this sickness of mind.In Matt.(6:25-34),Jesus warns against being so preoccupied with material needs that the will of God is ignored.His response to worry is don't do it.It is directly opposite of believing in faith that God will always come through.Worrying indicates a lack of trust in God.To work so hard for the material things of this world leaves no room for a display of God's miraculous hand in the lives of the believers.

In addressing peoples worries, Jesus was really addressing their lack of faith."O ye of little faith".Jesus says to the worrier,"take a look around".The birds and the flowers are all taken care of  by God.Have any of you ever seen a bird in a mental health hospital suffering from a panic attack?Jesus died for man not for animals and vegetation, so take no thought.Jesus points out that a person's value is greater than that of a bird or a flower,so we must have faith that God is at work on our behalf.Beside worring dosn't add to ones life,it dosn't make you taller nor will you live longer.Instead of working for, and worrying about material things,Jesus encourages His children to busy themselves with activities to build up God's kingdom on earth."Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness":We must have a hunger for righteousness and close living with God.If that is the focus of our daily action,we will never worry obsessively about the things of this world,for we will trust that God will provide our every need.

We are told through out Gods word to trust in Him in everything.Paul says to worry about nothing ,but to bring everything to God in greatful prayer.When believers do this, God gives us a peace that is beyond all understanding.So let us cast all our cares upon Him, for He cares for us, and he will provide our every need.

Who is He;And what is he to You!

Mark 8:29 "and he saith unto them,but whom say he that I Am?And Peter answereth and saith unto him,Thou art the Christ."

By the time Jesus asked this question of the disciples, He had calmed the sea,exorcised demons,raised a young girl from the dead,and fed over 5,000.Rumours about who he was ran rampant.One day Jesus pulled his disciples aside and asked,"whom do men say that I am?"Jesus used this conversation as a learning experience.Jesus wanted to be sure the disciples understood the purpose of the miracles they had seen.The disciples responded that the people thought he was John the Baptist, Elijah,or one of the prophets who had come back from the dead.

Then Jesus asked them,"But whom say ye that I am?" Saints who do you say Christ is,not only with your talk, but does the way you live your life say that he is the Christ, the son of the living God?Does your life reveal him in his full person,does he shine in and on your life?See in Peters mind and the minds of the others,Jesus was the long awaited messiah-King.He was going to overthrow the wicked Roman government,and put the Jews back in charge.However,Jesus spoiled their visions of a conquering Messiah.Instead of telling them what seats they would hold in his new government,Jesus begin to talk about his rejection by the elders,priest,and teachers of the law,followed by his crucifixion and death.As Peter listened he responded, "No,Jesus, That can't be true." They had witnessed his great power and authority,he was going to make life better not worse. Peter like many believers today,was looking for ease and comfort and power,not the ways of God.Jesus sharply rebuked Peter and clearly stated that those who followed him would suffer greatly.As Jesus suffered,His followers would also suffer.

In less than a week,three of the disciples would see Jesus in his glory and power on a mountain top,But they needed a picture of his suffering as well.Both are part of the christian life.Following Jesus requires us to take up our  own cross of shame, persecution and suffering.No cross,no crown, if we don't suffer with the crucified Savior,we can't reign with the risen Lord.....

Time To Go To Work!

Luke10:2"Therefore said he unto them,The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few:pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest."

It's been said that you are either a missionary or a mission field.That is,you are either being ministered to by others, or you are ministering to them. This scripture reminds us that we can go out in confidence, because God has gone before and prepared the way. There are persons of peace out there who are waiting to accept the Gospel if we share it with them.

 Jesus didn't plan to minister alone. His goal is to partner with those willing to minister with him.The spiritual fields are ripe for harvest.Many want to hear the good news,but there is a lack of workers willing to gather in the spiritual crops, to bring in the sheaves.Jesus has empowered us to proclaim the good news of the Gospel, in our walk and our talk ; in our attitude and our graditude; our sharing and our caring, he has given us everything we need to go into the fields and reap the harvest.When we go out and proclaim the good new of the Gospel, we heal sin sick souls, which shows the love of God to all. Now understand, not everyone is going to be receptive to Jesus or his message,but we are just to proclaim it anyway.We are to proclaim the good news to every creature, and warn those who resist the truth, that Jesus is real whether they believe it or not and he is comming back.When we proclaim Gods word truthfully, then his spirit will move on the prepared heart and lead them to his salvation.We must remember it is  God who adds to the Church as he sees fit. We are just to go out and proclaim the good news.

Many are in the field but they are sharing a message full of personal agendas and wives fables.So many teach and proclaim that which is not God's revelation but is man's imagination.We are messengers of God,therefore he has given us the message he wants us to proclaim to a dying world.So let us take Jesus God's only message to a dying world,and share him with everybody we see that a lost soul might be saved.