Matthew 11:17 "and saying:
'We played the flute for you,
And you did not dance;
We mourned to you,
And you did not lament.'
Jesus is talking about John the Baptist to the people. They were happy to go listen to John's messages as long as it didn't cost them anything. Once it came time for them to respond, they stopped going to him. Jesus is looking for a response from His people.
Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."
John responded to the first voice. His response was immediate.There was no questioning whether it was God he was hearing. he was close to Jesus, so he knew His voice.
If we are to respond to Jesus, we have to know His voice, and to know His voice, we have to know Him. In the first few verses of John, he tells us the secret to knowing Jesus
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3]All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. [4] In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
John just described Jesus, yet he used the name 'the Word'. John is telling us that Jesus is the Word. The Word is who Jesus is. Reading the Word brings us closer to Jesus because He is the Word.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
It's no coincidence that this is found in the Bible after John 1:1-4. It's because Jesus is telling us that only by reading the Word can we get to God. There's no shortcut, no other option, the only way is through Jesus, the Word.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Monday, September 24, 2012
Lead by Example
2 Timothy 2:24 "And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,"
As leaders we need to lead others by example. Each and every person on this planet is a leader. Everyone is being watched by someone, and therefore influencing them
"Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian." - D.L. Moody
We need to constantly have our light shining. You never know when someone's watching you, so why risk it?
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven"
As leaders we need to lead others by example. Each and every person on this planet is a leader. Everyone is being watched by someone, and therefore influencing them
"Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian." - D.L. Moody
We need to constantly have our light shining. You never know when someone's watching you, so why risk it?
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven"
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Rejoice Always
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"
The keyword in this sentence is always.Unless there's some other version of the word that means 'Only when you feel like it', that means every moment of every day of our lives. No wiggle room. If we're spending our time being worried, depressed, angry, etc., we're not always rejoicing. When Paul wrote this, he wasn't sitting comfortably in some fancy house. He was in prison, tied to a guard, knowing any day he could have is head cut off. If Paul can rejoice in that, we can rejoice when our car breaks down, or things don't go as we planned, or some other small thing happens.
The beginning of Philippians 4:6 reads "Be anxious for nothing..."
We have NOTHING to be worried about:
Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"
Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things. Sufficient for the day is it's own trouble."
We can't be worrying about all these small problems. They are minor and insignificant to God! If we're faithful to him, he'll take care of us, even when things look bad. We just have to keep rejoicing, always!
So how do we keep ourselves rejoicing instead of looking at the negative side?
Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things"
We need to always keep our mind focused on good, pure things, and we'll keep rejoicing. If we're thinking negative thoughts, we'll be in a negative mood.
The keyword in this sentence is always.Unless there's some other version of the word that means 'Only when you feel like it', that means every moment of every day of our lives. No wiggle room. If we're spending our time being worried, depressed, angry, etc., we're not always rejoicing. When Paul wrote this, he wasn't sitting comfortably in some fancy house. He was in prison, tied to a guard, knowing any day he could have is head cut off. If Paul can rejoice in that, we can rejoice when our car breaks down, or things don't go as we planned, or some other small thing happens.
The beginning of Philippians 4:6 reads "Be anxious for nothing..."
We have NOTHING to be worried about:
Matthew 6:26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?"
Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it's own things. Sufficient for the day is it's own trouble."
We can't be worrying about all these small problems. They are minor and insignificant to God! If we're faithful to him, he'll take care of us, even when things look bad. We just have to keep rejoicing, always!
So how do we keep ourselves rejoicing instead of looking at the negative side?
Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things"
We need to always keep our mind focused on good, pure things, and we'll keep rejoicing. If we're thinking negative thoughts, we'll be in a negative mood.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Born Again
2: Timothy 2: 20 "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor"
Everyone's born with both good and evil inside of us. We all have a desire to do good deeds, a hunger for Chritst, and a desire for His love, whether we realize it or not. When people have a desire for a loving relationship with someone, or to be accepted, or to be approved of, a desire to be entertained, all those things are desires for God in disguise, because He's the only one who can truly fufill all those desires. We also have a desire to do evil. We have a desire to steal, to cause hurt to others, we have sin, we fall to countless temptations, we have the want to fit in. The term "I was born this way" is true. We're all born with sin. That's why when we're saved by Christ, we're born again
2:Timothy 2:21 "Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work."
When we're born again, we're born without any of the evil things I mentioned previously, and we're born with only the things pleasing to God. The devil no longer has any power over you. He can still tempt and attack you, and he will, and on your own you would have fallen to it, but through Christ you have the power to put Satan in his place (Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.").
Everyone's born with both good and evil inside of us. We all have a desire to do good deeds, a hunger for Chritst, and a desire for His love, whether we realize it or not. When people have a desire for a loving relationship with someone, or to be accepted, or to be approved of, a desire to be entertained, all those things are desires for God in disguise, because He's the only one who can truly fufill all those desires. We also have a desire to do evil. We have a desire to steal, to cause hurt to others, we have sin, we fall to countless temptations, we have the want to fit in. The term "I was born this way" is true. We're all born with sin. That's why when we're saved by Christ, we're born again
2:Timothy 2:21 "Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work."
When we're born again, we're born without any of the evil things I mentioned previously, and we're born with only the things pleasing to God. The devil no longer has any power over you. He can still tempt and attack you, and he will, and on your own you would have fallen to it, but through Christ you have the power to put Satan in his place (Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.").
Monday, June 25, 2012
To He Who Overcomes
As I was reading Revelation 1-3, I noticed that Jesus repeatedly tells us things, almost rewards, for those who overcome sin, temptation, persecution, etc., and so, here they are...
Revelation 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." '
Revelation 2:11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." '
Revelation 2:17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which on one knows except him who receives it." '
Revelation 2:26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-
27 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'-
as I also have received from my Father;
28 "and I will give him the morning star.
Revelation 3:5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels
Revelation 3:12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more, I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him my new name.
Revelation 3:21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Revelation 2:7 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." '
Revelation 2:11 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death." '
Revelation 2:17 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which on one knows except him who receives it." '
Revelation 2:26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-
27 'He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter's vessels'-
as I also have received from my Father;
28 "and I will give him the morning star.
Revelation 3:5 "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels
Revelation 3:12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more, I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him my new name.
Revelation 3:21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Facing Man's Persecution
Luke 9:23 "Then he said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."
In other words, Jesus is saying if we want to follow him we have to take up his cross every day. Now, I don't think he meant that literally. Jesus was insulted, mocked, and physically beaten when he was crucified. Jesus is saying that if we want to follow him, we will be insulted, we will be mocked, we may even be physically beaten, tortured, or killed. This brings me to
2 Corinthians 4:17 "For our affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"
Whatever man may due to us here on Earth, while it may not seem like it at the moment, will be light and momentary compared to the eternal joy and glory which we will receive when we arrive at heaven! This leads right in to my favorite scripture in the Bible
Revelation 3:21"'To Him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
One thing I noticed as I read both Luke 9:23 and Revelation 3:21, is Jesus isn't asking us to do anything he hasn't already done! H'es already taken up his cross, and has already overcome! If Jesus did these things, then we can too! He told us we can!
John 14:12 "'Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."
Think about it! All that Jesus did, He did in only three years! Imagine how much more we could do with all the time we have if only we weren't afraid of man!
In other words, Jesus is saying if we want to follow him we have to take up his cross every day. Now, I don't think he meant that literally. Jesus was insulted, mocked, and physically beaten when he was crucified. Jesus is saying that if we want to follow him, we will be insulted, we will be mocked, we may even be physically beaten, tortured, or killed. This brings me to
2 Corinthians 4:17 "For our affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory"
Whatever man may due to us here on Earth, while it may not seem like it at the moment, will be light and momentary compared to the eternal joy and glory which we will receive when we arrive at heaven! This leads right in to my favorite scripture in the Bible
Revelation 3:21"'To Him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne."
One thing I noticed as I read both Luke 9:23 and Revelation 3:21, is Jesus isn't asking us to do anything he hasn't already done! H'es already taken up his cross, and has already overcome! If Jesus did these things, then we can too! He told us we can!
John 14:12 "'Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."
Think about it! All that Jesus did, He did in only three years! Imagine how much more we could do with all the time we have if only we weren't afraid of man!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Dedication to God
In Chapter one of Ruth, Naomi is married to Elimelech and has two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. These sons were married to Orpah and Ruth (Ruth 1:1-4). Eventually, Elimelech, Mahlon, and Chilion died. Naomi brought the two girls with her to Judah, and told them to return to their old houses, before they had married. In short, Orpah returned, while Ruth refused to leave (Ruth 1:7-18).
God is looking for the Ruths, those who will not leave him, even when tough times come! In verses 11-13, Naomi even tries to convince them to return, giving them reasons to not stay! Ruth still refuses to leave!
God wants those who are devoted, as Ruth was! He wants such a devotion that it doesn't matter what you've been through or are going through! He wants such a devotion that it doesn't matter what anybody says to you, you will never give up on Him! In verse 17, Ruth even declares that nothing but death will separate her from Naomi's side! If Ruth was that devoted to Naomi, a human being, with no blood relation, who tried to convince her to leave, then how much more should we be devoted to God, our Creator, our Father, who always loves us, and wants us at his side during the hard times?
God is looking for the Ruths, those who will not leave him, even when tough times come! In verses 11-13, Naomi even tries to convince them to return, giving them reasons to not stay! Ruth still refuses to leave!
God wants those who are devoted, as Ruth was! He wants such a devotion that it doesn't matter what you've been through or are going through! He wants such a devotion that it doesn't matter what anybody says to you, you will never give up on Him! In verse 17, Ruth even declares that nothing but death will separate her from Naomi's side! If Ruth was that devoted to Naomi, a human being, with no blood relation, who tried to convince her to leave, then how much more should we be devoted to God, our Creator, our Father, who always loves us, and wants us at his side during the hard times?
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