Month: March 2023

Being Prepared for His Return

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

      “Be dressed and ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when He comes and knocks, they can immediately open the door for Him.  It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when He comes […] But understand this:  If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming he would not have let his house be broken into.  You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” (Luke 12: 35-37, 39-40)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

      In ancient times, Jewish weddings were relatively prolonged engagements; often lasting for many days.  The guests would recline on pillows, feasting day and night; often falling asleep beside the table.  The length of the celebration was uncertain; it could end at one in the morning, or three in the afternoon. As a result, when the master of a household attended a wedding, his servants had to be prepared for his return at any moment.  Thus, Jesus uses this parable to illustrate His second coming.  After ascending into heaven, He promised to return; yet provided no specific day or hour. He could return tonight, a month from now, or in a hundred years. And so His servants must eagerly await his arrival every second of every day.

     Many years ago, prior to my conversion, I was engaged in a life of sinful disobedience.  I lived alone, in an apartment paid for by my Dad.  He would occasionally pop in to make sure the apartment was clean and in proper condition.  One evening, while hosting a drunken bash, things got out of hand.  We smashed beer bottles in my living room.  An exterior window was broken, and another party-goer broke my car window with an empty beer bottle.  Somehow the toilet clogged and overflowed as well; leaking into the apartment beneath me.  I eventually passed out; thinking I could clean up in the morning without anyone noticing.  However, early the following day, I was rousted from my sleep by the shouts of an angry man. “Get up,” my dad yelled in my ear!  I sprang from the mattress\ in utter shock.  I was embarrassed, ashamed, and filled with fear.  I hadn’t expected him; I never thought that he might witness the carnage of my drunken behavior.  He stood by, patiently watching as I cleaned up the entire apartment.

      Much like my Dad, the Lord is coming at an hour when we least expect Him.  We must always be ready for his return.  Those who obey the teachings of Jesus Christ are prepared to meet Him.  If we continually love and serve others, then when our savior arrives, He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant […] enter into the joy of the Lord.”

      “Lord Heavenly Father may our hearts be filled with the expectation of Your return.  Reveal to us any areas where we are being selfish, rather than selfless. Convict our hearts and give us the strength to repent.  May we always be giving, kind, and obedient; never missing an opportunity to serve You and our fellows.  We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.”  God bless all of you!

The Hope of Eternal Life

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKS

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I also go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know; and the way you know.” (John 14: 1-4)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

Jesus confirms the existence of heaven in this scripture; a magnificent place where believers will walk forever in fellowship with God. In turn, there is no reason for Christians to fear death; nor should their hearts be troubled. Without exception, there is no death for those who are alive in Christ. This hope of eternal life in the future enables believers to abandon their selfish pursuits in the present; choosing to serve others today in exchange for an everlasting crown. Therefore, when a Christian dies there is more cause for joy and celebration than sadness and sorrow.

Around the year 125 A.D. a Greek by the name of Aristeides was writing to one of his friends about the new Christian religion. He attempted to explain the reasons for its extraordinary success. In one particular sentence he wrote, “If any righteous man among the Christians passes from this world, they rejoice and offer thanks to God, and they escort his body with songs and thanksgiving as if he were setting out from one place to another nearby.”

The bodily death of a Christian may initially cause sorrow in the hearts of those who are left behind. However, as the truth of their location is acknowledged, any remaining sorrow turns to great joy. They are not dead, but are alive in Heaven with God. The temptations of their flesh have been destroyed, and they are at peace in His presence. In turn, their funeral is a cause for celebration rather than sadness. If we too are faithful, we will see them again; and that hope is more valuable than great riches.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we know that death is not the end, and that one day we will be alive in Your presence. May we remain faithful and never lose hope in Your promise of eternal life. Give us the strength to continue walking in fellowship with You; that we may continue doing Your work in this place, until we are called home; a day that we are looking forward to with great anticipation. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.” God bless all of you!

Jesus Creates Division

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 10: 34 – 39)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

Jesus didn’t come to create peace on earth. Instead, He likens His message to a sword; a sharp instrument designed to slice the world in two; separating the faithful from the unfaithful. Everyone, without exception, must choose a side. Either Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life,” the only begotten Son of God, or He’s nothing more than an influential historical figure; or perhaps even a deceptive charlatan. Those who believe the Gospel message are called to live as Christians; shunning what is evil and embracing what is good. Although individual believers adore Jesus, the vast majority of human beings despise Him, and His disciples. They hate Him because they cannot hide their sins in the light of His presence; and so they seek to destroy the light and everyone who carries it.

As Christianity grew throughout the Roman empire, it created immense division. Seeking to preserve the worship of false Gods, many rulers sought to destroy the faith. One Emperor named Diocletian was particularly violent in his hatred of the bible and Christianity. He killed many Christians, with such outrageous cruelties, and destroyed so many bibles, that at one point he believed he had actually succeeded in his efforts. Over a burned bible he constructed a monument with an inscription that read, “Extincto nomene Christianorum,” which means, “the name Christian is extinguished.” Additionally, he fashioned a medal with the engraving, “The Christian religion is destroyed and the worship of the gods is restored.”

Obviously Diocletian’s efforts to destroy the Church were unsuccessful, as the gospel is still being preached to this day. And yet the message continues to create division. Some are receptive and become believers, while many others do not. Those who call Christ their savior can expect to be shunned, hated, and even persecuted for their faith. If those who yearn to live in darkness without shame or remorse cannot flee from the light, then they will seek to destroy it. Thus, as faithful believers we will be persecuted and despised.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we desire to carry Your truth wherever we go. As we faithfully walk through this life, we expect Your gospel to elicit division, strife, and even hatred. Please give us the courage and strength to stand firm; that we might endure the persecution and animosity of this present world; and thus through us, Your light may always shine in the darkness. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, amen.” God bless all of you!