JESUS SPEAKING

            “But why do you call me Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6: 46.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

            ‘Lord,’ or ‘master,’ is a title that implies supreme authority.  Every master employs servants.  A faithful servant obeys his master without question.  An unfaithful servant says he will obey but does not.  The faithful and unfaithful have this in common; both can hear the word of God.  But hearing alone accomplishes very little.  Many atheists have read the bible; those who hate Christ have some knowledge of scripture; the devil himself excels in his understanding of divine truth.  Yet understanding and knowledge are meaningless without genuine obedience.  What distinguishes the faithful from the unfaithful isn’t years of contemplation and careful study; rather, it is the daily application of God’s word; those who fully implement the actions of Jesus Christ, serve the one true and living God.

            Jesus said, “You are the light of the world […] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”  Recently, after reading this scripture, I chose to implement it; I began by buying brownies for the coffee shop employees; I attached a card thanking them for their wonderful service.  I then delivered brownies to the bank employees and wished them a Merry Christmas.  I also bought and delivered a small Christmas snack to an acquaintance who works at the grocery store; and another to a friend in the coffee shop.  I gave a gift to an employee at the gym.  I then bought and delivered a toy to the church office for the Christmas toy drive.  While answering the prayer lines at the church I gave Christmas gifts to everyone in the front office.  When I arrived at work later in the day, I handed a Christmas gift to my co-worker.  Then I shared my dinner with the client I work for.  I had been obedient to the teaching of the Lord, and he used me to bring Him Glory.  Reading God’s word is one thing; applying it is another.

            Often, when you read the word of God, you have accomplished half of the necessary task.  When you listen to a sermon you have received inspiration that demands application.  Faith in its complete form is an action.  Faithful servants hear the words of Jesus Christ and do them.  If you desire obedience, become familiar with your masters teachings; read His word daily; and seek (with all your heart) to carry out His desires in the lives of all those you meet. [Note:  Knowledge of the Lord’s commands is necessary.  In the bible, ‘The Sermon on the Mount’ is one the most concise and condensed summaries of the teachings of Jesus Christ.  Become very familiar with this section of scripture.  The discourse begins in Mathew Chapter 5 verse 1, and ends in Mathew chapter 7, verse 27.]   

            “Lord Jesus, we want to be doers of Your word.  May Your inspiration find its application in our lives.  Teach us Your precepts and fill our hearts with Your commands.  Give us the opportunities to accomplish Your will in this world.  May all of our deeds exemplify Your love for others.  May we lay down our lives to serve You; our Lord and our master!  We love You Jesus, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Your name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.

JESUS SPEAKING

            “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 provides 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” (Mathew 5: 14 – 16.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

            It is impossible for a true Christian to remain unrecognized.  To stay hidden is to fail to fulfill God’s purpose.  Every true believer is called to be different; to stand out; to be set apart; loving where there is no love; giving where selfishness reigns; faithfully encouraging others; nurturing those who are sick; caring for the needy; filling the hearts of others with hope and joy.  Genuine faith produces an abundance of good works.  God’s people are set apart; they are a light in a dark world; they are divine objects that point toward a loving and everlasting Father.

            Of all the planets and stars outside the earth’s atmosphere, the brightest is the North Star (it is actually the planet Venus.)  Nearly all stars travel across the night’s sky; yet due to the Earth’s spin, Venus remains fixed; a characteristic that made it useful to ancient mariners who sought to navigate the open ocean.  The North Star’s brightness also made it the easiest star for sailor’s to recognize.  In a sea of stars, it outshines all of the others.  It cannot be confused with the thousands of dimmer stars that fill the heavens.  [Some time ago, I was walking through Wal-Mart, browsing.  The store was filled with people.  I was smiling at people as they passed by (as is my custom.)  Suddenly a woman who was inspired by my positive acknowledgement, stopped and came back up to me and said, “Thank God someone is smiling in this place.”  After our brief interaction, she continued forward.  She had seen in me the joy of the Lord; the light of Christ; something peculiar and rare, but refreshing and welcomed.]

            Like the North Star, the believer is by far the brightest object in the lives of those around them.  In a sea of (dimly lit) non-believers, the followers of Jesus Christ standout; they are different; they can be easily recognized; they are filled with love, charity, and compassion.  Their hearts overflow with kindness, joy, and peace.  They orient others by pointing them upward toward God (who is the source of all love and mercy.)  If you have received the salvation that is from God, then you are different; do not seek to remain hidden.  Instead, let the light of The Lord shine through you; so others may see your good works and know that there is a God who loves them. 

            “Lord Heavenly Father, we desire to be different.  We desire to be more loving, more caring, and more giving.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, and help us to shine brightly in this dark and unloving world.  May others see our good works and be drawn to You; the God who loves them.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name.  Amen.”  God bless all of you.    

JESUS SPEAKING

“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God:  I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I could wish that you were cold or hot.  So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth […] as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.  Therefore be zealous and repent.” (Revelation 3: 14 – 16, 19.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

After being seized by the Romans, the Apostle John was marched in to a crowded coliseum and plunged in to a vat of boiling oil.  But when he remained unharmed, masses of people within the coliseum began to convert to Christianity.  The Romans, fearing his influence, placed him in prison on a deserted Island off the cost of Turkey (known as Patmos.)  Church tradition teaches us that on this island, in about the year 95 A.D., an aging John (the last living Apostle) received a revelation from Jesus Christ.  In this revelation Jesus addressed the seven churches located in the cities of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.  The Laodicean church had become lukewarm in their faith; they were once bold, zealous, and uncompromising.  Yet, over time they succumb to personal comforts, complacency, and routine.  Jesus sternly rebuked them; his command: be zealous again; reach out; be bold; spread the gospel; be eager to do good and to serve; and work hard to save souls.  God’s message to the Laodiceans is timeless; it pertains to the church today.  There is no half-way; a moderate faith is a dead faith.  For the believer there are no vacations, no breaks, and no retirement.  Those who stop serving God fully, are in danger of becoming lukewarm, cold, and dead.

Interestingly enough, a recent study revealed that early retirement can lead to an increased risk of death.  In 2005, three groups of people were studied; those who retired at 55; those who retired at 60; and those who retired at 65.  “In this research, death was almost twice as likely in the first 10 years after retirement at age 55 compared with those who continued working.”  The tendency to take it easy and relax can have disastrous results.  To lose enthusiasm for God’s message is to fail to fulfill the highest calling of God.  We must fervently work for the Lord until he returns to gather us together.

Are you eager to serve God and others; or have you been serving yourself?  Are you on fire for the Lord, or have you become cold?  Are you readily spreading the gospel, or have you fallen silent?  Have you faded in to the background, or do you speak the truth in boldness?  Be brave and reach out for Christ.  May your heart be ignited by the consuming fire of the Holy Spirit.  May the words of God flow from your mouth, and may your good works never cease; may God use you to transform the lives of others; and may you represent the church of God with conviction and zeal.

“Lord Heavenly Father, fill us with Your Holy Spirit and cause our hearts to burn for You.  Grant us boldness and faithfulness.  May we shine brightly in the lives of all those we meet.  Give us the words to speak, and the strength to continue.  May we never grow weary or become lukewarm; may we never cease from serving others, knowing that one day we will have our rest in You.  Lord, we love You, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.”  God bless all of you.