What is your favorite season of year? Why?
Fall. Because the temperature is beginning to come down and things are going dormant. It is relaxing.
So many times we think that love is something to do with the way we feel or something that we have, but it isn’t. It is a decision to treat others the way that Jesus would treat them and the way you would like to be treated. Don’t mistake lust or a “good feeling” for love because those are far from the reality of it.
The friend of God, Abraham, went through this test at one time. God had promised him a son and he and his wife had one in their old age, far beyond the years for either of them. When Isaac was in his early teens God tested Abraham by asking for Isaac’s life as a sacrifice. He didn’t hesitate. He knew that God had promised him many things through Isaac and if God was Who He said He was then even in death He would fulfill those promises by bringing Isaac back.
God gave His Son too. He allowed Jesus to go through all of the torture and cruelty of death on the cross just to pay the penalties for all of humanity’s sins. God did this out of His love for us, all of us, but that doesn’t mean that He is okay with our sinful lives. That is what we are supposed to repent or turn away from when we give our hearts to Jesus and ask Him to come in a change us. But today, many people seem to believe that they don’t have to do that. They want to be Christian and still practice their sins and the lifestyle that goes with them.
You have to sacrifice your old life and its sins to be a Christian. That is what repentance means. If you attempt to live both a Christian life and a life in bars or strip clubs, then you are fighting against yourself and making your “new” life meaningless. You can’t live both ways. Jesus said in Matthew 6: 24: “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
Being born-again means that your Spirit and your heart are made new by the working of the Holy Spirit when you become a Christian. You are to be more like Jesus every day, that is your walk and your purpose when you give your life to Him. Seek Him to be your Lord and Savior because we are living in very dangerous times and we don’t know when He may come for the church. Be ready.
Have you ever felt like you were missing something? As if there was an empty space inside?
My parents got divorced when I was about five years old and there was always a feeling that “something” or someone was missing. In my case, my father was missing for many years of my life. There was always an empty place that I felt inside too but I had a hard time figuring out what that was.
I tried meditation and reading Oriental philosophy since I was interested in martial arts for a while. As I progressed into my teens…I’d rather not tell everything that I got into but it did involve alcohol. I wrecked a couple of cars and thankfully I didn’t kill myself.
Eventually, I found out what was missing and it turned out to be my Savior. He was the missing piece that was needed in my life. Unfortunately, it still took many years until I finally made Him my Savior. I did “accept” Him into my life at the age of 18 but I was only saying the words and going through the motions. It wasn’t real. I thought it was for a while but looking back on it, I was just playing with the idea of being saved.
I was in a very dangerous place at that time. Even though I thought I was saved but if anything had happened to me, I would’ve gone to hell. I had some people praying for me though so I was able to make it to the day when I truly found that I needed Him and I finally gave my life and my heart to Jesus.
If you feel like you are missing something…consider your eternal home. By not making that decision, you are making a decision. I had family praying for me so I had the time to make that decision. I pray that you will seek to know Jesus as your Savior soon.
The Living Message of Christ 