The Love of Most Will Grow Cold

The Love of Most Will Grow Cold

Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. JOHN 13:23 

The Greek word agape is one of the most important words in the New Testament. It means “unconditional love”—the no-strings-attached love with which God loves us. Agape’s Hebrew parallel in the Old Testament, hesed, is less familiar but no less important. It means “loyal love” and describes God’s everlasting love for His people, Israel (and Israel’s spiritual descendants, the church). Loyalty is almost a lost value in today’s world. Everything seems to be for sale, including friendship, affection, and devotion—the things that make up loyalty. Even Jesus’ disciples found themselves lacking in loyalty on the day Jesus was crucified—all the disciples except one, that is. The disciple named John seems to have had a devotion to Jesus that the others lacked prior to His resurrection. John was the only one of the original band of disciples who stood at the foot of the cross in Jesus’ final hours. John was loyal to the very end. Every Christian should ask himself, “Would I have been there with John? Will I be loyal to Jesus regardless of the price?” The deeper our understanding of God’s agape, the deeper the manifestation of our hesed.- Dr. David Jeremiah Morning and Evening 

Matthew 24:1-14 NASB "Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to point out the temple buildings to Him. ² But He responded and said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone here will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.”

And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will mislead many people. And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pains.

Then they will hand you over to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. And at that time many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will rise up and mislead many people. And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will become cold. But the one who endures to the end is the one who will be saved. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come."

Revelation 2:1-7 NASB "“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

‘I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Therefore, remember from where you have fallen, and repent, and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent. But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’

There's times when I read in my morning Bible reading where I read one thing and God, through the Spirit, takes me somewhere else.  This certainly is one of those times. 

We read in Romans 12 of how Christians are to be in their conduct in the body. Of how they should be towards one another and towards the outside world. Read that chapter again.

Romans 12 NASB "Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith;  if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

I don't pick the topic or the direction of these posts. I am to write as I am directed to write.

Your question today, my Dear Reader, is just where is your love of God? Take it's temperature. Is it vibrant and alive or is it on life support?

That part from Revelation can be directed to you or I.  Has your love of God, of His Christ, grown cold?

Are you conformed to this world's ideas and ideals? 

Are you on display for the world to see as a transformed life at all?

We read of John's devotion to Jesus, to the very end at the foot of the cross. 

We read...but is that us?  We certainly do live in a society where loyalty is as disposable as a paper towel. 

We look at Church as an option not an opportunity. 

We look at serving as though it was for someone else to do. We don't have the time. 

We look at reading our Bible as a chore, not as something we get to do. 

We look at a few hours with other believers as rough, yet spend 2 to 6 hours easily in front of a television or at a venue with eagerness and passion unrivaled. 

We look at listening to other's needs in the body and look around to see if anyone sees us ignoring the plight. 

Get real with your reactions and really examine your life in Christ. Has your life been about conformity to the world at the expense of your life with Jesus or are you looking for transformation?

In Christ we are born in this world at this moment in time for His purpose under Heaven. We are just as specifically placed in time, as the birth of Christ Jesus in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. 

You are as uniquely placed in God's Plan to reach those around you and to know the love of God as Jesus was in His time on the Earth in His ministry. 

Where are you in your life's ambitions?

Are you passionate about the things of God or of the things of this world, trying to fit in, to not draw attention so as to avoid   if possible, any tribulation of your own?

Are you looking to skate through this life, trying to enjoy all you can, without all the other parts of what a Christian is to be?  Because that's a life where the love of Christ has grown cold. 

As we heard yesterday about how Romans 12 speaks to being connected in the body of Christ, you have a responsibility to the others in the body of Christ. 

You aren't to live out your own thing. 

I encourage you to look at your loyalty to Jesus Christ. When you get dressed. What do you show the world? When you look at your car, the rooms in your home. Your home itself. Your hobbies. Your life's direction. Your thinking itself. Where does your mind go in regards to the things of God?

Where your treasure is there shall your heart be also. Your treasure being what you truly value. 

Again I don't pick or choose these blogs. I am tasked with writing and sharing. 

That letter to the Ephesians in Revelation is one of 7 letters.  Some think that the letters are in a specific order to translate to time periods of the Church until Christ Jesus returns. That may very well be. But the topics can be for us individually. 

Where, really, is your love for your Savior, if indeed you have come to Jesus for salvation?  We are to show others what Jesus looks like, not show them how we look like them. We are to be light in the darkness because of the light of Jesus in us.

The love of most will grow cold. 

I pray that isn't me. I pray it isn't you. 

Worship Alone...With Right Priorities

Worship Alone with Right Priorities 

And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. MATTHEW 14:23 

Jesus Christ was unique in that He was both human and divine. Because we tend to think of Him as the Son of God more than the Son of Man, we often overlook what we can learn from His human experience. When Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people near the Sea of Galilee, His divine power and prerogatives were clear (Matthew 14:13–21). Yet after this event, we see the humanity of Jesus in ways we should be able to easily identify with. After dismissing the crowd and sending His disciples away, Jesus withdrew to a solitary spot on the mountainside to be alone with God. How is it that the Son of God needed to be alone with God? While that mystery may remain, one thing is clear: the stark contrast between the crush of a huge crowd and the solitude of being completely alone. Most Christians today only experience the former. Note that Jesus created His solitude by sending the others away. When was the last time you created time for the express purpose of worshiping God by yourself? People are necessary for many things, but worshiping God alone is not one of them. - Dr. David Jeremiah Morning and Evening 

Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. MATTHEW 6:10 It is a helpless, hopeless feeling to be caught in a whirlpool in which other people and their priorities are sucking you under. I know that my priorities are God first, my wife next, my children next, and my vocation and ministry last. What a joy it is to go to God in prayer each day and pray what I have learned from the Lord’s Prayer: “Lord, Your kingdom come, Your will be done. By the grace of God, with all that I have within me, Lord, help me this day to make Your will manifest in my life.” I have to keep praying that every day. I pray those priorities back to God, not only because I want God to hear them, but because I want me to hear them, so I don’t ever forget. God changes us through prayer—when we pray, we get on the same wavelength with God. And as we pray, if we pray according to the will of God, little by little He takes all the things that are out of sync in our lives and puts them into sync so that we can take this big deep breath and say, “Oh, yes, that’s the way it’s supposed to be!” - Dr. David Jeremiah Morning and Evening 

Both of these today mention something necessary and beautiful. 

I really like it when I am able to be "in the zone" with my worship music.  Not caring about anything but the moment with Jesus.   The other devotional helps to set prayer priorities. 

We often think we have priorities when in reality we start the day off, and continue through it, reacting to life rather than being intentional in life.

If you've been reading these posts for the last several months you know of the significant changes in my life.  Most of the changes are a 180 degree difference from what I have been used to for much of the last 21 years.  To be honest, as always, I don't know how to handle it most of the time. 

The changes appear to be all good, but even good changes can be frightening when you're not used to them. 

And oh I am not used to them.  

Reminding myself these days has been a  might bit easier due to reading Romans 12 every day.  But it's still difficult. 

You might think a smaller town would mean easier life but it's not.  When you get down to it small or large each has its own brand of chaos. You learn to adapt. 

In my prayer life I have learned to be much more open about things than I used to be.  I imagine that in this devotional we read about Jesus getting away to be alone with His Father, He too was being very open.  I imagine as well the rejoicing over the success of His Kingdom coming on Earth as it is in Heaven.  Satan's schemes weren't working, as they knew they wouldn't.  

Satan's schemes these days for the world is to push it towards accepting a world leader of his choosing that will be his physical manifestation of himself. That the world would worship this AntiChrist as they would have worshipped God. 

You and I are indeed being manipulated, make no mistake about it.  We are indeed dealing with the enemy of God, but are seeing that manipulation tempered by the Spirit of God. Allowing only so much because regardless of things, God still intends to save people.  We indeed see many millions dying.  Regardless of your point of view, even as a believer in Christ Jesus, those leaving this world are no longer a part of that plan of God.

Those who are saved find themselves instantly in Heaven, unencumbered, worshiping Jesus face-to-face.  Regardless of the way they leave this Earth that's what they are doing now. Regardless of our thoughts or feelings on it, they are now worshipping in spirit and in truth.  In all likelihood they are also in conversation with Jesus about you and I.  Praying directly with Jesus. Certainly having every tear wiped away by Jesus. 

We are to be growing in Christ regardless of how life is here.  Was reading the next chapter in the Romans 12 book we are studying.  Our being in God's Word, living out life by God's Will, is what we are foreshadowing our life will be in Heaven. 

Our lives need to be with the right priorities that are just like Dr. Jeremiah said.  God first, my Wife second, Family third, everything and everyone else after that.  

I face the greatest stress and struggles when those are out of alignment. 

I indeed want my prayer life to be richer.

I indeed long to be face-to-face with Jesus.  I do pray for His Kingdom to come.  Millions and millions of people are not ready for what is about to happen to this world because of that kind of prayer. 

It means praying for the return of Jesus Christ. 

It means unleashing the Judgment of God as displayed in the book of Revelation upon both mankind and this Earth. 

It means all that to be endured by those left behind in order for the Thousand Year reign of Jesus Christ to happen here on Earth, with King Jesus in the flesh as the World Leader. 

People think that the wars and revolts in our world are bad. More are coming.  Jesus said there would be. Earthquakes and famines in various places. Read the headlines, already happening.  People who believe in Jesus Christ being persecuted, sued, harassed, killed...all happening today. 

The time is ripe for the return of Jesus. 

His Kingdom IS coming. 

We were created to worship God.  In Heaven it's always happening.  Here on Earth we learn how to do it.  

It's very disturbing to me to see Christians with mixed up priorities.  Satan and his minions are constantly trying to change my priorities. There's a very apt, old, saying: know your enemy.  For the believer, God's enemy is your enemy.  There is no neutral ground. There are no sidelines. No timeouts.  Jesus was followed place to place in His Earthly ministry by Satan's minions from before He was born in Bethlehem until He died on Calvary. He often got away to be with His Father because that's where He drew His strength.  He needed to keep His focus on His Father’s Plan. 

We are a part of that Plan.  We need to be with our Heavenly Father too in both prayers and worship.  We need right priorities. We need to be in the world but not of the world. Praying what Jesus prayed. Letting go of this world and embracing God's priorities for us.

So are you? Look at your life and take off your rose colored glasses.  Be honest and real with yourself.  This world was never expecting what it's going through right now.  It's easily not expecting what's about to happen that's also by the Will of God. 

Transformed or Conformed?

Transformed or Conformed?

by David Brenneman 

Was reading again in Romans 12, as that is our daily assignment from our Bible Study, and in Matthew 23 today.  It's interesting, always, when the Spirit connects the Scriptures in ways you haven't seen before. 

Romans 12 - the Chapter NASB "Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many parts in one body and all the body’s parts do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually parts of one another. However, since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to use them properly: if prophecy, in proportion to one’s faith; if service, in the act of serving; or the one who teaches, in the act of teaching; or the one who exhorts, in the work of exhortation; the one who gives, with generosity; the one who is in leadership, with diligence; the one who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Love must be free of hypocrisy. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor, not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never repay evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all people. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written: “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. “But if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Matthew 23:8-12 NASB "But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters. And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest of you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted."

Reading these two lead me to rethink much of what I had even been told from within the Church about leadership.  It caused me to rethink and look up the definitions to several words. To transform is an internal change. To conform is to change outward appearances.  Those two pointed me towards the Leader - Leadership issue.  Have had people intentionally pointing practically all men towards leadership positions in the Church and if you look at the popular site LinkedIn, most posts are pointing people towards being leaders. 

But what did we just read?  We who are in Christ have a job to do, for lack of a more direct way to put it. We are in the body of Christ for HIS purposes, HIS reasons. For what HE wants and needs done. 

We are reminded in Corinthians that we are His workmanship. We are a work in progress. What the Spirit starts with in us will not be what we will yet be before Christ one day. 

This world looks for conformists.

The Spirit is looking to transform. 

Jesus says that Christ is the Leader. Yet I have been around many in Columbus whereas they look like they are the one with the Vision for that particular Church and it's their way or the highway. 

I have also been taught of what we read today.  That Leadership begins with and is wrapped up in Christ Jesus. He is the head of the body, the Church.  There are those raised up within the Church to be Elders and Deacons as far as men go, and Deaconesses as far as women go. There are no women Elders nor are there women Pastors. This is from the letters to Timothy. 

In our world we are pushed, pushed, pushed to conform to the world culture. To do so is to live life as Satan has planned it.  In various times in human history to not conform meant death. We are heading back towards a period in history where that will be the case again. We read in the Bible of specific times when people of God were told to conform and they faced death. 

To transform a life it begins inside the person.  To change your way of thinking. Training the mind to do things differently on purpose with positive, Godly, results. 

To conform is to do what's necessary without change actually happening. 

In today's woke terminology its not enough to say a person supports it, they must show it emphatically that they support it. Satan's stepping up his ideology. We see in Revelation that it will encompass the world. That if you don't hold to a full allegiance to his appointed World Leader you will die. To have that allegiance seen requires a mark on your hand or forehead. 

Sounds far fetched? People are already volunteering to have identity microchips surgically implanted. It's used in the military to identify soldiers in the battlefield.  People doing it intentionally to avoid identity theft. Saw at least one story of a man doing it to fully automate his high tech house.  No wall switches anywhere and it always was aware of his temperature needs etc.

The Pharisees and Sadducees were indeed conformist people. Their ideology still exists in power hungry people in the church today.  Those in the Church are warned to beware of wolves in sheep's clothing. To beware of those trying to subvert the Church to their own ends. We are warned to beware of false teachers.  

We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. To prove what is the right and acceptable Will of God is. 

Transformed people attract those who are not. 

Conformed people do not attract anyone. 

We who are being transformed are to set our minds on the things that promote growth in Christ. Not wasting the time because the days are short.  

Conformed people live lives without hope of any positive change that benefits them.

Transformed people in Christ have the living hope of Christ and His promises. 

So which are you?  People even within the Church don't always see either.  Many have idolatry in their hearts and lives but don't recognize it as such. Many have redefined what God has said to appease their own desires rather than to reject sin as they ought to. 

You, my Dear Reader, must choose to live as Jesus intended you to live if you ever want to truly live.  To not be conformed to this world but be transformed. 

There are Only Two Kinds of People

There are Only Two Kinds of People 

Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. PSALM 51:1 

John Vassar was an agent for the American Tract Society in the 1850s. He left a Bible in the home of a Christian woman whose husband was an infidel. When the husband discovered the Bible, he chopped it in two. Later, in an hour of despair, he began reading Luke 15, the story of the prodigal son, in his half of the Bible. Desperate to read the conclusion, he begged his wife for her half, read the story over and over, and was saved. It’s easy to tell when the grace of God has opened the spiritual eyes of a sinner—he comes to a clear conclusion that he is a sinner! And it’s also easy to tell when personal sin is not clear to an individual—he sees sin in everyone but himself. The parable Jesus told of the two brothers (Luke 15:11–32) has an example of each. The younger, prodigal brother recognized his sin and repented before his father. The older brother, however, was indignant that his younger sibling had been forgiven. He couldn’t extend grace to others, probably because he may not have experienced it himself. Which “brother” would you have been in Jesus’ parable? Being forgiven by God only makes sense to those who know they’ve sinned. - Dr. David Jeremiah Morning and Evening 

Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation. D. ELTON TRUEBLOOD

Some look at Christianity as a thing for the weak. A crutch to lean on when life isn't working and no other excuse fits what's going on.

The reality of life is bound up in belief. 

What we believe determines our physical present, our understanding of our past, and the direction of our physical and spiritual future. 

The world is realistically divided alright. But it's not race, not color, or anything else. It's divided between the believing and the one who does not in the God of the Bible. 

What some do not realize is that Paul indeed wrote a lot, and his writing was to teach those WITHIN the Church as to the types of people to avoid. The types of people that would be the wolves in sheeps clothing.  

In Revelation Jesus wrote to Churches.  He wrote of some that we aren't sure who they really were, not that it matters, but wrote of specific things they needed to address. 

We all need to address our position before God.  We indeed all have one.  You are either among those who believe or those who reject. 

The consequences aren't necessarily going to be evident in this world.  But indeed there are eternal consequences. 

You and I, just as the Bible says, have been given enough information to make a very informed decision on the reality of our sin, our need to have it dealt with. There's more than enough evidence to prove that God exists. The real issue is what will you do with that evidence?  God cannot be a liar. He said that every one will be without excuse when they stand before Jesus. 

You are in only one of two places in your Spiritual life.  All who live have a spiritual life.  A life that ends in Heaven or in Hell. 

What you choose determines your destination. 

What you decide, and all people by virtue of the lives they live, display their choice, determines your present and future. 

You are either living for Jesus or living for you.  God made it that simple to understand.  

Our wants and desires will either take precedence or the will of God will.

The Prodigal Story is about 3 people. The Father and his 2 sons. One eventually repented the other didn't.  One learned the lesson, the one who didn't go off and live for himself did not. He was indignant. He learned nothing about obedience or right living even at home.  He never learned how to come to the end of himself as his wandering brother did.

You have more than enough evidence before you to live a life that is what God intended for you.  You are either going to accept it or you won't. Your future of Heaven or Hell is in the balance of what you decide. God isn't being unfair or unreasonable. He is the Creator. He is the one who is Holy and is the One who made it possible for you to be saved when there was no way any human could. 

There's many millions per day waking up in Heaven or Hell and it was their choice. 

Either they put their faith and trust in Christ Jesus alone for salvation and woke up in Heaven or they didn't and woke up in Hell.  Everyone since Adam and Eve has woke up in only one or the other. 

All worldly religions are lies of Satan.

You need to think about this for sure. You need to take this seriously because you aren't promised a today, let alone a tomorrow.  You must decide for yourself because nobody can decide for you. 

Living for Jesus is only what's right considering what He went through to save you. It's not about losing out on life, but rather in finding a life to be lived.  We are taught by the Spirit and the lessons will repeat until we get it and grow in Christ. 

We have to choose...choose wisely...your future depends on it.

You Have Been Invited...But Will You Be There?

You Have Been Invited...But Will You Be There?

Matthew 22:1-14  NASB "Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who held a wedding feast for his son. And he sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened cattle are all butchered and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast!”’ But they paid no attention and went their separate ways, one to his own farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his slaves and treated them abusively, and then killed them. Now the king was angry, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. Then he *said to his slaves, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. So go to the main roads, and invite whomever you find there to the wedding feast.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.

“But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, and he *said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet, and throw him into the outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

There are many parables that Jesus said that refer to our invitation to come to Him and become part of the Kingdom of Heaven.  

For more 2,000 years the invitation has gone out. Broadcast by word of mouth, by radio, print, television, telephone, cell phone and computer. 

It's sad to say that many millions of people are among those who have rejected the Lord’s invitation.  

They have committed the unpardonable sin. That singular sin that there is no forgiveness for. 

Those people are in that place of weeping and gnashing of their teeth.  People, who, one second after death find themselves where nobody WANTS to be. People who believed Satan's lies about life and living. Who trusted in themselves rather than in Jesus Christ for salvation. 

You and I, everyone who breathes the breath of life, has been invited to come to Christ for salvation.  But in many cases excuses abound. 

People believe the same lies as the millions before them. 

They are more concerned about their personal happiness and well-being in the here and now, having no regard for the impact of that choice on their eternity. 

Every person given life in this world faces eternity after death. 

Every person given life in this world decides to either spend it in Heaven or in Hell. Regardless of their point of view on the reality of the God of the Bible, that's the truth for everyone. 

You may not believe in God. Doesn't change His desire that you not spend eternity in torment in Hell. But He also will not look the other way concerning your disbelief and your sins. 

You may not think that you're a bad person. That you sort of think that there's maybe a higher power out there. But know that isn't enough. God will not look the other way concerning your sins. 

You may even think you have a really good life, a really good heart and don't deserve what the Bible says about sin and death. It doesn't change God's Word. Sin must be dealt with. Either by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ which takes it away or by you suffering for it yourself. 

You may believe some other religion. That doesn't change things either. The Creator of all things has revealed more than enough of Himself to the world to let people see His attributes. Your decision to believe something else doesn't replace or remove God's need to deal with sin.

You have been invited regardless of where you are in life. 

Jesus is standing at the door of your heart knocking. But there will come a day when He won't be there. 

You must choose. You must come. You.

There will be no acceptable excuses for not coming to Christ for salvation. 

None.

You are more important to God than all your excuses.

Until Jesus came, lived a sinless life, until He suffered and died on a cross. Until He arose 3 days later to become the way to be saved, there was no hope for mankind. Those who died before that moment who looked ahead at that day coming and were still saved.  Those who saw it who believed were saved. Those who look back in belief are saved.  

You have a choice to make. You have been invited. 

But you cannot come unless you are giving your life to Jesus.  You cannot sneak into Heaven. 

You must come through Him. 

This is a limited time offer.  This isn't going to go on forever.  

Salvation is free. Your rejection is also free. But both have eternal consequences. 

Seeing Yet Not Believing

Seeing Yet Not Believing 

Not long ago, a man in Louisville, Kentucky, stole a credit card from a woman at church who, noticing her purse open, called the police. Authorities soon caught the man. He was using the card at a Christian bookstore to buy ten copies of a Bible study called Moving Beyond Your Past. We don’t know the thief’s spiritual condition, but we do know that many Christians never move far beyond their past. They come to Christ, but the evidence of maturity and spiritual growth is sparse. Paul called such people “carnal.” The carnal man is saved and Spirit indwelled, but he is controlled and dominated by his own life. The Holy Spirit is a resident, but He is not president. Lot is a good biblical example. He was enamored with the world, pitching his tent toward Sodom. Soon he was in Sodom, sitting at the gate, all wrapped up in materialism and with the world. You have to read all the way through the Bible until you come to 2 Peter 2:7 before you find out that Lot was a believer. There are lots of Lots today. If you had to indict them for Christianity, you couldn’t get enough evidence for a conviction. Are you a “carnal” Christian? Renew your wholehearted commitment to Christ, and let Him be President, Lord, Boss, and King of your life. - Dr. David Jeremiah Morning and Evening 

Was reading in my Bible this morning and read of a moment that the Jewish leaders were questioning Jesus concerning by what authority He was teaching and doing what He was doing. 

Matthew 21:28-46 NASB "“But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ But he replied, ‘I do not want to.’ Yet afterward he regretted it and went. And the man came to his second son and said the same thing; and he replied, ‘I will, sir’; and yet he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They *said, “The first.” Jesus *said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even have second thoughts afterward so as to believe him. 

“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and he leased it to vine-growers and went on a journey. And when the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his fruit. And the vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they did the same things to them. But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let’s kill him and take possession of his inheritance!’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” They *said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other vine-growers, who will pay him the fruit in the proper seasons.”

Jesus *said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures,

‘A stone which the builders rejected,
This has become the chief cornerstone;
This came about from the Lord,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruit. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and on whomever it falls, it will crush him.”

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. And although they sought to arrest Him, they feared the crowds, since they considered Him to be a prophet."

God granted these leaders the ability to understand that what was just taught was indeed about them and their unbelief. They understood it and rejected it.

Many millions over the centuries have been in that place of understanding. 

My Dear Reader, please think again about your relationship with Christ. Have you listened to the point that you gave your life to Jesus to be saved or have you done the same as these leaders and rejected what He's allowed your heart to understand?

All who have ever lived or will live will be without excuse before Jesus Christ in the day of Judgment.  Everyone will have had an opportunity to believe what the Spirit of God has revealed to them or to reject it.  Literally, as in the case of what you just read in Matthew, it's a Heaven or Hell difference in what you choose. 

To go to Heaven or not to is based entirely upon you believing what the Bible says about salvation in Christ Jesus.  It's about you believing and trusting in Jesus Christ alone to be saved.  God didn't make it a complicated thing on purpose. In other passages we read that this plan is simple enough for a child to understand it. Adults look for unnecessary conditions and exclusions that children rightfully never consider nor look for. 

Salvation in Christ Jesus is free to all who believe. 

It's not about rules and regulations to receive it. It's not about getting lives fixed before receiving it. It's not about works to be done to be worthy to get it. It's not about anything we physically can do to get it.  It's a choice. It's a choice of the heart, mind and soul.  

As the Bible has said, if it were possible for mankind to do anything to be saved on his or her own, then Christ died needlessly.  He suffered for all the sins of mankind needlessly. He took the place of everyone who ever will live needlessly. 

Consider that He even died for everyone who is in Hell is also mind blowing. Their rejection of salvation did not minimize all that Jesus went through.  Jesus died and arose again for all mankind. 

But the right to be adopted by God is in a choice WE must make. 

It's wrapped up in what we decide to do with believing it.

My Dear Reader salvation in Christ Jesus is free.

There's no conditions other than living for the one who saved you.  If someone in your world right now gave their life so that you could live, you would want to honor them by truly living a life worthy of their sacrifice wouldn't you?  That's what Christians are to do. 

Living a life that says "Jesus is here. Come and See!"

It's God's job to work on fixing our lives.  We just don't have what it takes to do it. 

You have indeed been given enough information to make an informed decision about believing.  A day is quickly approaching when Jesus will return and all who have believed without seeing will be taken from this world. Will you be among them or will you still be here when the judgments of the book of Revelation rain down upon mankind and this Earth?

You are the only one between you and being saved. 

You are the one who needs to decide if you want to really live or not.

1 Corinthians 2:9 NASB "but just as it is written: “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HUMAN HEART, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

Improper Hate...Shows Your Character Not God's

Improper Hate...Shows Your Character Not God's 

Whom having not seen you love. 

   I walk by faith, not by sight. I love You, God, because You first loved me. I have known and believed the love that You have for me. You are love, and I who abide in love abide in You, and You in me. In You I also trusted, after I heard the word of truth, the gospel of my salvation; in whom also, having believed, I was sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. To me You willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in me, the hope of glory. 

   If I say, “I love God,” and hate my brother, I am a liar; for I who do not love my brother whom I have seen, how can I love God whom I have not seen? 

   Jesus said, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Blessed am I who put my trust in You, Lord God. Enable me, Lord, to abide in You more fully . . . to love my brother more wholeheartedly . . . and to trust You more completely so that I may know Your blessings. 

1 PETER 1:8; 2 CORINTHIANS 5:7; 1 JOHN 4:19; 1 JOHN 4:16; EPHESIANS 1:13; COLOSSIANS 1:27; 1 JOHN 4:20; JOHN 20:29; PSALM 2:12 - Dr. David Jeremiah Life-Changing Moments with God 

We certainly live in a world that's teaching people to hate.  To hate out loud.  To make sure it's out loud or it's not genuine. To physically display it or it isn't real. That you aren't a part of "the movement".

Hate has it's place in life but the issues of today aren't it.  Forced hatred in human things isn’t it.  Hatred for what God hates...this is a different story. 

God hates sin.  God has issues with our maintaining anger.  We are told in the Bible not to let the sun go down on our anger.  We are told as well of anger/hate giving Satan a foothold in our lives.  It gives him opportunities to impact our lives.

I was easily given opportunities to hate more than a few people in this last year in my last job.  Easily that was a road before me.  The path that I took was to turn such people over to God to deal with. If it's one amply learned lesson for me in my life that I remember well: God can go places in the lives of people that I cannot. 

The Spirit changes the hearts of people. We do more harm than good when it's our will being done rather than God's will being done. 

We aren't the one leading people to Christ, it's the work of God in us. We are to be the willing servant of God. 

It's day 3 of reading Romans 12 as per our Bible Study assignment.  In it we also read to make every attempt and effort to be at peace with all men.  It also very specifically states whereas much as is possible be at peace.  It's not always going to be possible. But do your best anyway. 

It is rather interesting what stands out when you read the same chapter daily.  Things that stood out yesterday differed from today even. 

The Disciples were taught to change their behavior before mankind.  To let go of their ideas on how to deal with people and to show them the things that Jesus was instilling in them. And as if to show even them, Jesus told them of the Spirit to come, that they would have an even greater impact than they were seeing after the Spirit did come.

To stand out means to be different in situations that people expect a certain reaction or behavior.  To react as Christ Jesus would rather than what our gut instinct would.  Truth be told, my anger scares me.  My reactions that come from my anger are almost always destructive.  It's been extremely rare that my anger ever was what God was angry about. 

Jesus was teaching His Disciples how to be different.  Micah Tyler has a song out called Different.  In it there's a line: I want to be different, I want to be changed. Till all of me is gone and all that remains is a fire so bright that the whole world sees...that there's something different in me. "

Reread that first paragraph in that prayer.  What we have in Christ is what should be seen by people.  Not what we have in us.

You DO invest in your life. But WHAT you invest is up to you. 

You will either invest in your wants and desires or you invest in God's wants and desires.  You will only do both at the same time when you both want the same things.

You can't pray for His Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven and go run off and do something that has absolutely no Kingdom bringing impact. Granted there's aspects of life that aren't, that we have no choice in.  A job is one of those.  Even Paul made reference to working with his own two hands to supply his own needs.  We also have families to take care of. 

But then comes the sly temptation to justify to ourselves our own will being done next. We sometimes even use self-justified anger to make that time our own. 

Saying we deserve this or that. We deserve to die for our sins. In Christ we are to live for Him, just as the Disciples did.

Naturally the question comes "But what about my wants, needs and desires?" 

Jesus: Take up your own cross and follow Me.

The workmanship of Christ in us is to change our character. To make us more like Christ.  To get our way of thinking to be changed to how He thinks. To change how we see life and the world to how He sees it. To behave as He would. To be interested in what is interesting to Him. 

To walk by faith not by sight.

More than what the verse says about anger not bringing about the righteous life that God desires in us, our personal interests and desires easily can hamper that as well. 

But I need to relax! But I want to do this! But I need to do that or I will be upset!

What time did a Disciple display something that wasn't what Jesus was teaching teaching that He didn't use as a lesson to effect change in them?  Go ahead and look. 

We cannot impact the world for Christ if we insist on our will being done. We cannot have a positive impact if our anger is pouring out and it's got nothing to do with God's idea of righteous anger. We cannot live life with us in mind yet say we want what God wants. 

Being real with you is what you need to be. Jesus taught His Disciples to be real with themselves. He taught them to display what they were taught, not what they wanted to do. 

How much of the character of God is seen in your life?