Month: August 2023

Avoiding Dirty Language

~ servantone1 ~ Leave a comment

JESUS SPEAKING

     “Are you also still without understanding?  Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemes.  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” (Matthew 15: 16 – 20)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

     The Jews believed that eating with unwashed hands rendered them spiritually unclean, thus hindering their relationship with God.  And yet this particular sanitary practice of washing before meals isn’t found anywhere in the Old Testament scriptures, but is instead derived from the opinions and traditions of the Rabbis (the teachings of men.)  God dwells in the human heart and not the stomach; therefore when an individual’s words and deeds are righteous, the presence of God is revealed in them.  But the existence of deception and filthy talk reveal a heart that is defiled.

     I recently attended a function where I had the opportunity to interact with an old reverend who had spent his life and career supposedly representing Jesus Christ.  When he addressed the group, he used an innocent analogy concerning life, yet in his rendering he made use of a dirty word.  This peculiar occurance was later followed by a joke which included a reference to the attire worn by strippers.  Needless to say, whether right or wrong, I left there questioning the purity of his heart and his commitment to God.

     Without a doubt, the things we do and say are expressions of our relationship with God; especially the cleanliness and purity of our language.  When we present ourselves as Christians, others will look to us as an example of how Christianity should be practiced.  There is no faster way to destroy our testimony and cast a shadow over our faith than to use foul language and engage in filthy talk.

     “Lord Heavenly Father, fill us with Your Holy Spirit and cleanse our hearts of all unrighteousness, that we might accomplish Your good works and exemplify Your purity and cleanliness.  May our tongues be filled with encouragement and kindness.  Provide us with opportunities this week to witness to those You have placed in our path.  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!

Why People Reject Christ

~ servantone1 ~ Leave a comment

JESUS SPEAKING

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 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: 18 – 21)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

According to Jesus Christ, those who refuse to believe in the gospel are driven by a singular desire; to continue in sin without conviction. Jesus is the light, and those who are willing to confront their sins and repent will draw near to Him. Yet those who are unwilling to abandon their sinful behaviors will avoid Christianity at all costs; they may even choose to persecute those who represent Jesus. For many who embrace darkness, the light is their enemy.

Every night around the world there are clubs and bars that thrive on and promote drunkenness and promiscuity. They shut the windows and turn down the lights; creating an environment where people can forget who they are and sin without conviction. Still, although they embrace the darkness for a time, these establishments must eventually close. When they need people to leave, they do one essential thing; they simply turn on the lights. In the light people can see themselves again for who they truly are, and the cover of darkness is broken. The patrons will then exit without delay.

Like clubs and bars, this world is a very dark place; full of sinfulness and debauchery; but Jesus Christ and His followers are the light that shines in the darkness. His presence convicts the world of sin; revealing the truth for all to see. Some will encounter that light and be transformed. Others will be convicted and because they refuse to change, they will attack the light. They will rage against Christianity and persecute anyone who dares to spread the gospel.

“Lord Father in Heaven, we desire to carry your light into the darkest places. Give us the strength and the courage to withstand any persecution we will endure on Your behalf. Please continue to make us better Christians and better messengers of Your will. May those who walk in darkness see the light and be transformed by it. 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!

Blessings and Cursings

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

    “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.  Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled.  Blessed are you who weep now for you shall laugh.  Blessed are you when men hate you […] for the Son of Man’s sake […] for indeed your reward is great in heaven […] But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.  Woe to you who are full, for you shall hunger.  Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.  Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6: 20-26)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

    The pronouncement of blessings and cursings was an intimate part of the Jewish culture.  Many Israelites would bring their children to the Rabbi’s to receive a formal blessing.  A blessing is a prophetic pronouncement of some future good in an individual’s life.  A cursing however, foretells of some impending calamity.  The blessings that Jesus conveyed upon the crowds were entirely dependent upon their reaction to His message.  Those who continued chasing after the passing pleasures of this life would ultimately enter into unending sorrow.  But those who chose to deny their own desires in order to serve God, would eventually inherit eternal rewards.  Without question, every genuine believer must embrace sacrifice.  Some common sacrifices might include wealth, a potential career, power, property, prestige, or any number of other selfish indulgences.  Because the path to peace with God includes enduring some manner of present pain, most will reject the gospel and continue in sin.

    To more easily understand this scripture, we need only look at the modern day credit card crisis.  Right now, Americans possess more debt than many previous generations could’ve ever imagined. This current epidemic is often the direct result of extreme self-indulgence.  When a person goes out shopping and they can’t afford an item, they might use a credit card to avoid denying themselves the joys of some passing pleasure.  But paying for things with money we don’t have doesn’t make the pain disappear; it simply postpones it.  Eventually the credit card company is going to come looking for their money; causing those who have fed their fleshly appetites to endure the suffering they so desperately attempted to avoid.

   Many people have spent their entire lives avoiding pain; constantly indulging in pleasurable endeavors. However, their suffering hasn’t been eliminated, it’s only been deferred.  They will eventually be required to ‘pay the check.’  Chasing after wealth, material possessions, careers, and even a good reputation can lead to an eternity of pain.  So then, self-denial is the way to inherit eternal blessings.  Volunteering, using our excess wealth to bless the needy, spending time listening to others, evangelizing, as well as visiting widows and orphans are just a few ways we can practice self-denial in this life.  By denying ourselves, we will become servants of the living God; and in the coming kingdom, we will receive the blessings of eternal life.

    “Lord Heavenly Father, help us to willingly endure the sufferings of sacrifice in this present time; that we might renounce our own desires in order to fulfill Your purposes.  May we deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow You.  Reveal to us where we can be more selfless; where we can be more giving; and where we can be more loving.  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!