Believe and Follow Jesus

So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,

and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Acts 16:31 NKJV

Suppose one day you were at an old cabin in a scenic wilderness relaxing and enjoying the quite of the day. Everything is so peaceful so you decide to take a nap on a hammock strung up between two trees outside of the old cabin. Then right in the middle of your slumber you are awakened to a raging forest fire surrounding you. You get up and start looking for a way of escape, but cannot find one. You tell yourself "I will find a way out of this miss" but you are having no luck. Then a man from search and rescue comes and tells you “there is one way out, but you must follow me and if you do I will lead you to safety.” What would you do? It would depend upon if you believed and had faith in him, or not. Am I not correct? If you say “I believe” then run in the opposite direction, it would show a lack of faith. If you believed the man, you would follow him, would you not?

So many times I hear people say they “believe in Jesus” then live like the devil. The only time they call upon Him is when they are in trouble. Then the only time you hear them speak His name; it is used as a dirty swear word. If this is you, I encourage you to ask yourself “Do I really believe?” Then ask, “Who is it that I am following?”

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 
(John 10:27 NKJV)


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. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
(Luke 9:23-26 NKJV)

Hear God's Words

He who is of God hears God’s words...” John 8:47a NKJV

Let us open our Bibles today with praise and thanksgiving for what we hold in our hands is not some ordinary book. It is the very Word of God and He has something for us today. We get to hear from the One with the power to calm the storms and raise the dead. He is the one who said “let there be light” and there was. Let’s get excited because the creator of the universe wants to speak to us.

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17  NKJV

Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners,

Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

And in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree

Planted by the rivers of water,

That brings forth its fruit in its season,

Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper.

Psalm 1:1-3 NKJV



Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.  John 17:17-19 NKJV

Photo: Image Base

Lord, Help Me Understand

Over the last week things in my life has caused me to reflect back on my journey through grief. It was in November 2008, the Lord called my wife home. During this time, God’s Word spoke to me in ways it never had in the past. Also, His comfort was beyond what words could do justice. I could write about this, however, in this blog post I would like to discuss something I had a hard time understanding. In fact, I still do not fully comprehend it. That is, we are to rejoice always and in everything give thanks. This means even in my wife’s passing. I could understand being thankful in the good things the Lord provides. But rejoice and be thankful in death?

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I believe this is an important passage to consider regardless of what we are going through in life, both good and bad.
 
In my prayers I would say, “Lord, your word says to rejoice always and in everything give thanks. How do I rejoice and give thanks in this?” I remember saying many times, “I just do not get it, please help me understand.” I have come to believe He wants us to be thankful for what He is doing through the situation and still give Him praise. He wants us to be thankful for what He has already done for us. And, He wants us to be thankful for what He has for us in the future. He is still a good God who loves us more than we could even imagine. He loved us enough that He sent His only Son to die for us. He paid a debt we could not pay to redeem us out of our lost and sinful state. A state we are in because we choose to rebel against Him. Jesus was in heaven, humbled Himself and became a man who was obedient to the Father, even to death on the cross. (See Philippians 2:5-8). Think of this, He did not even have to create us, but He did. Because of Jesus, we have a future and a hope beyond our greatest imagination. We get to spend an eternity with Him in His perfect kingdom. Because of Jesus, we can be thankful even in death.

  

In my grief, here are some things I am thankful for:

• Everything Jesus has done, (see above).
• My wife is in heaven with Jesus and one day I will be there also. 
• I am thankful for the wonderful times we had together and the amazing relationship we shared.
• Jesus was glorified during the memorial service and many unsaved people heard a very solid message of salvation.
• The Lord used this to bring her brother to faith in Christ.
• The Word of God spoke to me more personally than it ever had before.
• The Lord never abandoned me. 
• When I was hurting, He was faithful comforting me.
• He provided all my needs.
• He still loved me.
• My relationship with Him grew. 
• My faith increased.
• As the Lord comforted me, now I can comfort others.

Five Barley Loaves and Two Small Fish

John 6:5-9 NKJV

Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”

Sometimes I think what I give or do is not of much value.  I am not a great speaker nor will I ever write a bestselling Christian book or stand before coliseums full of unsaved people preaching the Gospel.  There are too many hungry people both physically and spiritually, what difference can I make? I can easily think like Philip and Andrew; “What I have is insufficient.”

 

Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. (John 6:10-13 NKJV)

The beautiful thing is I do not have to be a famous evangelist or a man with deep pockets. What little I give He can multiply and do wondrous things.  I do not have to solve the world’s problems, just be faithful to the Lord with what I have.

Bread Image: Rosemary Ratcliff / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Fish Image: Paul / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Light of the World

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.  
John 1:10-11 NKJV


“And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
John 3:19-21 NKJV

I have heard many people say “if God would reveal Himself, I would believe.” If this is you, I would like to ask you this: “would you really believe, or are you just using this as an excuse?” Please consider this: God did come to earth and revealed Himself, yet many still did not believe. They denied Him, yet the proof was right before their eyes. God has also revealed Himself to you. Please consider these passages.


For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Rom 1:18-21 NKJV


Before I was saved I did not want to come to the Light because I loved my sin. I tried the best as I could to make God go away. But now I am so thankful Jesus did not give up on me and sent people into my life to tell me of Him.


To read the rest of John 1 click here.
To read the rest of John 3 click here.
To read the rest of Romans 1 click here.

I'm Gonna Let it Shine

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. John 1:6-9 

Two of my greatest witnesses to the Light of Christ in my life were my grandparents. I was always touched by the way they lived their lives for Jesus. Even though my time around them was limited because they lived in another state, the Lord used their testimony to bring me to salvation some twenty years after they both went home to be with the Lord. This was not the only thing He used, but it played a major roll. Out of love, my grandparents lived life to bring Him glory. I can remember my grandma, with her soft gentle voice, speaking of Jesus and telling me to follow Him.

We Christians, like John the Baptist, are called to bear witness of the Light. When you read the scripture account of John the Baptist, there is no doubt who he is serving and bearing testimony of. Likewise, there should be no doubt as to who we serve. In our fallen sinful state, we are tempted to serve ourselves. Many times, people around us may not even know that we are Christians. We may be afraid to share or else our heart and minds are on other things. For some, there may be no fruit of salvation and we may live like the world. In these things, we may end up standing in the way of someone else... that may have entered into the kingdom.

“Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered.”
Luke 11:52

Lord, please help me to be faithful in bearing witness of Your Light and use me to bring people into Your Kingdom. I do not want to hinder anyone else from entering in. In Jesus Name, Amen. I pray this is your prayer also.

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. “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.

 Matt 5:13-16

Photograph: Image Base

Bury Not Your Talents

Mat 25:25-27 ESV

'so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.'

But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed?

Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest.

The Lord blessed me as a child with a good home. We were not a rich family by any means, but all our needs were met. Then through my whole adult life, the Lord has been faithful. I am far from rich, but never had to go without a meal.

The talents the Lord has giving me, not only was it money, but abilities. I look back and see the wasted talents and what I could have done with them, if only I had not hid them in the ground. I have always been the type who would hold a job and do my best to perform well. But, none the less, I could have applied myself, finished college and done better.

Now, for the most important question... what have I done with the talents He has giving me for His kingdom? For most of my life, I did not care about the things of God. I did not serve Him at all. I was most interested in “my party and my fun.” I was far away from God and in no way wanting to draw near. However, once I got saved a little over seven years ago, that all changed.

What can be more important in life than what we do for His kingdom with the right heart? We serve an awesome King. He created a perfect world; we missed it up with our sin. Jesus came down from heaven, went to the cross and died so we could live forever with Him. He is worthy to serve! The bottom line; the work we do in the world will only last for a season. The time we spend on our pleasures are short lived. The money we spend on our stuff will perish. But our service and giving to the Lord will last forever.

The Lord has done everything for us; now let us serve the Servant King. What could be more valuable or important?

Thank you Jesus for making it all possible!

For more reading:
The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins and of the Talents


Photography: Image Base