The mystery of God is summed up in one word…Jesus. Through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we have new birth and can fully grasp the foundation and principal of God’s love for us.
Tag: jesus
Mark 4: 26-29 ” He also said, ‘This is what the Kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed spouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces the grain – first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.’ “
The Kingdom of God is within the human heart, and just like the Spring soil, the seed is planted and grows. We may not totally understand how both happen…but by faith and trust we have this assurance…that our personal relationship with Jesus will grow within us, just like the life found inside that seed.
Psalm 73: 25-26 ” Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Elsewhere in Psalms it says, “You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.” For to lose all things is to gain Christ. Our well-being …both mentally, physically, and spiritually is in the Lord and Him alone. And even when our bodies grow old and weak, He’s our strength.
Romans 14: 10-12 ” You, then, why do you judge your brother? Or why do you look down on your brother? For we will stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: ‘As surely as I live’, says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
We are casual to judge others. We become judge, jury, and executioner with a glance or comment…judging others more harshly than ourselves. But there will come a time when all our judging will cease…for the great Judgment Day will come and it will be God doing the judging. And at that moment…all will recognize and submit to His authority alone. For at the name of Jesus every knee will bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2: 10-11)
Galatians 6: 7-8 ” Do not be deceived: God can not be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”
We sow our wild oats, and what do we get in return? Lung cancer from damaging long-term cigarette smoke…Hepatitis C from IV drug use…Sexually transmitted diseases from promiscuous activity…Cirrhosis of the liver from chronic alcohol abuse. It doesn’t sound like great compensation for a few minutes of pleasure. That’s why God’s offer is far superior with lasting benefits…for it says in Romans 6:23, ” For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The Tomb’s still empty.
On that Resurrection Sunday they found the stone rolled away and the tomb where they had laid Jesus empty…and somehow we tend to forget the power it took for that miracle to happen. We forget the magnitude of Jesus taking every sin ever committed by mankind on Himself. We downplay the sacrifice He made for us while we were yet sinners. So the next time you’re racked by fear and doubt…remember the tomb’s still empty. When discouragement and anxiety try to take over your life…remember the tomb’s still empty. When the world seems in turmoil and paranoia…remember the tomb’s still empty, and God’s still in control…and if you had been the only person on earth, Jesus would have died for you.
I John 2:17 ” The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.”
All the world’s affections and fascinations will not last…they are here but a day and then gone. The only thing that remains…the only true thing we can base our life and faith around is the person of Jesus Christ. For it’s by Him and Him alone that we might be saved.
Mark 10: 24-25 ” But Jesus said again, ‘Children, how hard it is to enter the Kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.’ “
Jesus gave an exaggerated comparison of attempting to squeeze a huge camel through the tiny eye of a needle…it’s almost impossible to do. But then He took it one step farther, comparing it to those who put their trust in riches rather than the living God…their chances of making it to heaven were just about as slim. So I ask you today – where do you base your trust?
Isaiah 61:1 ” The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives, and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…”
In the fourth Chapter of Luke, Jesus has come home to Nazareth for a visit and on the Sabbath goes to the Synagogue. There the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah is handed to Him and He reads this passage out loud. In doing so, He announces His mission and purpose here on earth. For as everyone waited for Him to speak, He said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” He honored not only His family, but His home town by officially starting His ministry in Nazareth.
Matthew 16:24 ” Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.’ “
Jesus would ask you today…”Are you willing to give up yourself for Me? Are you willing to put into proper priority all things and people in your life so I’m first? Are you willing to endure the afflictions and trials of following Me and My teachings? Are you willing to give up yourself…in order to find Me? “
Safetypinlove 