Category: A new life in Christ

You are invited…


Come unto me, all ye that labor and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28‭-‬30 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.11.28-30.KJV

Much of the world does not accept this invitation. Why? It is the only way to paradise and eternal joy with God. The places in the world where Christianity takes root the best are in places where there is much resistance to the gospel. Places where many are threatened with death or with being thrust out of the family because of giving their heart to Jesus. The invitation has been open for a couple of thousand years now and many people have accepted it regardless of the danger to themselves. Some have even given their lives because of their love for Jesus and because they would not recant their belief in Him.

The invitation is an open invitation to everyone who may be seeking to fill that empty place in their heart. They’ve felt it for many years but they don’t know how to fill it. Money and power won’t fill it. Fame won’t fill it. Having a beautiful home and family won’t fill this void either. There is nothing in this world that will satisfy the longing for meaning in your heart except having Jesus as your Savior.

This was true when Jesus was teaching it to His disciples and it is still true today. Not one teaching in the Old Testament or the New is out of date. Every one of them is useful for our lives today…especially the gospel of Jesus Christ. Your life and mine will only last for a few years and there are so many who spend their lifetime trying to provide for their retirement. If people spent as much time and energy getting to know Who their Savior is and how to be saved by grace through faith in Him…there would be more Christians in this world today.

Most who have good jobs with retirement benefits spend lots of time trying to get as much as possible out of their 401K so they will have a comfortable retirement. Yet many of them will die not long after retirement because they are dissatisfied with it. There is no fulfillment in retirement, even though it is something they have been working toward for most of their lives. Some will even die soon after retirement because there seems to be no joy in retirement but joy can be found in Jesus and in Him you can have and enjoy eternity.

Wait for the Lord


One seed can make a difference


It doesn’t take a sermon. Just saying grace over your meal in a restaurant or even a fast-food place can plant a seed. You may never know if it took root until you get to eternity. Sometimes just helping someone with their groceries can plant a seed or even a kind word.

Living under the blood


Amen

A powerful statement for us today


And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also if aught but death part thee and me. Ruth 1:16‭-‬17 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/rut.1.16-17.KJV

This statement should be part of every wedding ceremony. If those who are being joined in marriage are willing to abide by this covenant, it is likely the relationship will last. Many people don’t take commitment seriously today but your marriage is not just between you and your spouse. This is a covenant between you, your spouse, and God. If you are not going to be serious about it then you might as well not go through with it.

The family has suffered greatly for many years. Due to some outdated ideas of marriage and the relationship between husband and wife. Some have used the scripture to demean the relationship between spouses and cause violence in their homes. Scripture has been used to justify the slavery that America allowed for so long. It was used wrongfully to make slavery seem accepted between man and God but that is not what God’s Word said. I don’t want to get into this debate but the church has caused a lot of harm over the last two thousand years and I pray that soon that will change.

The book of Ruth shows that redemption and love come from God and redemption is shown in this book is the type that exists between God and His people and the church today. God redeemed us through Jesus and His sacrifice as the perfect Lamb of God. God has always intended that the relationship between a man and a woman be a reflection of His relationship with us. This is shown in many books and stories told in His Word.

God loves us unconditionally just as the love in marriage becomes over time. While it begins as romantic and erotic love, the marriage relationship should become one that is unconditional and deeper in meaning. Some think that the love they see in their parent’s and grandparent’s relationships should be the way it is after the wedding but it takes time. Seeing the beauty of someone on the inside and loving that person is the way that God looks at us. He loves the person that we will be after Jesus comes into our life.

Being this kind of person is not intuitive or natural for us but when the Holy Spirit changes our hearts, we can be this way. It isn’t easy and it doesn’t happen instantly but with prayer and study of God’s Word, “washing our mind in the living water of His Word“, we can become more like Him. We will become the type of Christian that we should be.

Put your faith in the Lord


What have you sown?


It is in prophecy that there will be many false teachers during the last days. Whether many believe it or not, we are living in the last days before the Tribulation. The Truth of God’s Word is that which should be preached in these days, not teachings of men or “ideas” or “visions” that someone claims to have. God’s Word is the Truth and it is that which saves you from the punishment for sins. Not just reading it or hearing it but seeking the Savior in it and becoming a follower of His and not just a hearer but a person who does what God’s Words asks of him.

Go and tell others of the salvation brought to you and bought for you by the blood of Jesus. This life of ours is fleeting and very short compared to eternity. Make sure of your place in eternity because once this life is over you don’t get a “pass” or a “do-over”. The choice that you make in this life, even up to the day of your death, are what determines your eternal place. It will either be in torment because you rejected Jesus or it will be in Heaven because you accepted His call to be one of His disciples and followers.

Some even preach that you can claim your rewards now in this life. To a certain extent that may be true, if you are asking according to God’s will for your life and for an actual “need” in your life. God doesn’t grant wishes like some genie. He only gives to us those things which will enable us to be useful to Him and His Kingdom and bring Him glory. Those who claim to have millions and fame for themselves from God I would question their true relationship with Him. God does not share the throne with us. The only One Who sits next to the Father is His Son.

We who are saved by His grace and His call on us have the third Person of the Trinity living with us, the Holy Spirit of God. He agrees with our Spirit to ask for those needs that we have whether they are for healing or for our ability to do God’s will in this life. God knows the ones that He has called to be His own and He knows who has accepted that calling. Make sure of your calling and what you are doing for Him by prayer and fasting and by reading His Word. This is the only way to know for sure what you are sowing into eternity.

So much to do…


Does it seem like time is speeding up to you? It’s been feeling that way for me for a long time. Ever since my son was born the days and months just began to run together and one year went by and then every year since then has picked up speed…at least to me it seems. It seems that since he got married that time has even picked up a little bit more. This year has just sprouted wings! It feels like it was January 1st just a few weeks ago! We’re almost into April now. My birthdays get here way too quickly now so things need to slow down a bit!

I know this is just the way life is but sometimes I wonder how Adam or Methuselah could live so long and the years just seem to go by so fast. I’m only sixty years old and I used to think that someone that age was OLD!

There does seem to be so much to do and yet the time is just slipping away so fast. The time that we are living in right now is on the edge of the Tribulation. We aren’t there yet but when the church is taken up with those who have already died knowing Jesus as their Savior…it will begin. All of the things that are foretold in the book of Revelation will start to happen and it will happen FAST! I pray that you won’t waste the time that you have right now because we are not guaranteed to have tomorrow. If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, please seek Him soon! You can still become a Christian after the church is gone but you will be persecuted for being His and likely killed too.

You can find the Lord if you will seek Him!


We should NOT be afraid!


Our world is persecuting any form of Christianity or Christian belief. Some of the ways this is being done is by shaming us or businesses owned by Christians but this is only the beginning. Jesus said that these “pains” would come before the time of the end and we have been living in this period of many pains for the last few years. Belief in Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and it is our obligation to tell others about this. So why are there so few people who will answer a survey for Him and say that they are His followers? Is it because they are not His but are just pretending to be?

In Luke 12:4-5 it says: 4“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.

Tell others about your faith and in whom you have placed your faith because faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven. Life here is swift and short but eternity comes after we die. Make sure of your eternal home and that it is with your Savior and not with those who have only visited the church occasionally. That day is coming when He is returning for His church and all of those who have believed. It is not a long time away, it could be tomorrow. So make sure today.