Just like the scarecrow you put up in the garden…” Man-made gods are no gods at all.” (Acts 19:26). That funny looking old scarecrow may fool the birds for a little while, but pretty soon they’re sitting on its shoulder and ignoring it’s purpose. Any god that man has made is worthless…it can’t move, walk or talk…it can’t do evil, but it has no real benefit either. The scarecrow hanging in the melon patch, as with any other man-made gods, will never save you from your sins, or love you unconditionally, or heal your body from disease. No, there is only one…and His name is Jesus.
Month: July 2013
Revelation 22:17 ” The Spirit and the bride say, Come! And let him who hears say, Come! Whoever is thristy, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.”
Whoever…a simple pronoun, but in this verse it makes such a tremendous impact. Whoever, is every person, no matter who they are, or where they’ve come from, that may receive this free gift of eternal life. Our Lord is continually wooing and calling those who are willing to receive this living water…He makes no distinction…He holds no prejudice….Whoever is just that to Him, whoever. Maybe you’ve been praying for a “whoever”, wondering if they’ll ever give their heart to the Lord…know that the Lord is saying to them, Come! … And that He’ll never give up.
II Samuel 11:1 ” In the Spring, at the time when Kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the King’s men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.”
It was the right time that Rulers would go out to war…but King David stayed at home. Instead of being with all his fellow soldiers and comrades, he remained in Jerusalem. Satan has a way of picking us off when we are weak, tired and isolated. He knows that as long as we are with fellow Believers, doing what we should be doing, it’s hard to entice us into sin…but get us alone and feeling exhausted and weak, and we’re easy targets. The great King David was no exception…by staying in Jerusalem rather than going out with all his troops, he fell into sin with Bathsheba.
II Corinthians 4:18 ” So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
We are not to focus upon the temporal things of this world, but rather on the lasting Kingdom of God. This faith we have in the eternal, is built up daily as our walk with the Lord becomes stronger and stronger. As we trust the Lord more, we will cast only a fleeting glance at the world and its temporary pleasures, knowing with certainty where our everlasting home is.
Proverbs 29:11 ” A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.”
When we allow the flesh to take over, a simple irritation can quickly snowball into a raging outburst that can cause irreparable damage to all parties involved. When an unwise person allows their anger out in inappropriate ways, it can escalate and lead to major problems. A wise man keeps himself under control…he keeps himself still and restrained…and at all times, in command of his flesh.
Matthew 22:21 ” Then He said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’ “
Jesus had just asked the Pharisees whose portrait was on the denarius, and they had replied Caesar. He then had instructed them to give to Caesar that was his, and to give to God what was God’s. Interestingly enough, if you look on any American currency you will see the little phrase “In God We Trust”. Our Lord’s name may have been taken and banned from many places and things over the years, but it still remains on our currency as a silent reminder of what our forefathers fought for to establish this great nation. As it says in Romans 13:7, “Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes, if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” Today, when you reach in your pocket or wallet, take a moment to glance at that great statement of Faith, and give honor to Him where honor is due.
Psalm 119:59 ” I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to Your statutes.”
The Lord is forever wanting us to think about our actions and behaviors. Are they righteous or wicked…good or bad…helpful or harmful? God’s precepts are the standard by which we should focus our Way in this world, but the decision to do so is entirely up to us. As it says in Joshua 24:14, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”
Luke 12:49 ” I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled.”
Jesus said He had come to cast His refining fire of purification on the world and all mankind. Elsewhere, in Matthew, He said,” I did not come to bring peace to the earth, but a sword.” Welding the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, Jesus brought forth the cleansing and purifying Way. And this Way is still available today…to anyone.
Titus 3: 4-5 “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.”
The grace and love of our Lord brings salvation to sinful mankind. Jesus came to deliver us from Spiritual death, not from anything we had done, but entirely by His loving compassion towards us. The incomparable riches of God’s grace was expressed in His kindness to us in the form of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.
Safetypinlove 