Month: October 2024

The Great Commission

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JESUS SPEAKING

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 18 – 20)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

Those who follow Christ are bound together by a singular purpose; to carry the gospel message to the entire world. Individuals who believe and repent of their sinful practices are baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. With great joy, these new disciples begin submitting themselves to the commandments of Jesus Christ; which emphasize their duty to evangelize. This scripture is often referred to as the ‘Great Commission.’

As we read in Genesis, the purpose of every living organism is to replicate after its own kind. To grow, multiply, and thrive. In this sense Christianity is no different. In John 12: 28, Jesus says, in reference to his death upon the cross, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.” When one seed properly planted grows to maturity, it generates many seeds suitable for planting. Obviously then, a single seed can produce millions of seeds.

In reference to multiplication, Christianity is no different. The seed we have is the gospel message, which we are commanded to sow by means of evangelism. When this message of salvation and rebirth lands on good soil, it grows and produces many more believers, who in turn produce even more believers. Thus, according to the great commission, we are one of the primary instruments through which God adds to His body.

“Lord Heavenly Father, may we strive to spread the gospel message throughout the entire world. Give us the courage to speak up and to be bold. As we interact with others, may we prioritize evangelism; that many may come to receive salvation and be reborn. 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!

Loving Our Enemies

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JESUS SPEAKING

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you. Do not even the tax collectors do the same.” (Matthew 5: 43 – 46)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

The way that we treat our enemies reveals the authenticity of our Christian faith. As imitators of Jesus we are called to love those who hate us. When we love our friends and despise our enemies, nothing remarkable is expressed or observed (as even those who are evil practice this form of devotion.) And yet if we display a supernatural affection for our adversaries, then others will witness the risen Lord accomplishing His works through us; and many will be transformed.

As the story goes, hundreds of years ago an elderly Christian man entered a forest in Poland on his journey toward his native country. He soon encountered a band of robbers who demanded all of his valuables, finally asking: “Have you given us all?” When he had finally answered “All,” they let him go. Once safely out of sight the old man felt something hard in the hem of his robe. It was his gold; sewn there for safety. He promptly hurried back and found the thieves. He said, “I have told you what was not true; it was unintentional. I was too terrified to think. Here, take the gold in my robes.” To his astonishment, nobody offered to take his gold. In fact, one man returned his purse, another returned his book of prayer, while still another returned his horse and helped him to mount it. They watched as he slowly rode away. Good had triumphed over evil.

We read in Romans 12: 20 – 21, “Therefore, if your enemy is hungry, feed him, if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head,” (conviction.) “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.” As Christians we are commanded to love our enemies; to greet them and show them kindness, no matter how devious. In so doing, others may observe this supernatural love of God and be drawn to the Lord.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we are grateful for all of the blessings You have bestowed upon us. May we let go of any hatred we are harboring for others, that we would seek to love even the worst of our enemies. May we greet our friends and adversaries with an equal measure of affection. 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 name, amen.” God bless all of You!

Test All Things Against Scripture

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JESUS SPEAKING

While fasting in the desert, Jesus was tempted by Satan on numerous occasions; several of which are recorded in the bible. Each time, the Lord rebuked the Devil, using scripture as His primary weapon. We read, ‘Then he (the devil) brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. For it is written: ‘He shall give His angels charge over You,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest You dash your foot against a stone.'” And Jesus, (quoting Deuteronomy 6: 16) answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'” Now when the Devil had ended every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. (Luke 4: 9 – 13)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

The devil is a cunning adversary “who walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” As the master of deception he mixes the truth with lies; leading many astray. Unfortunately he is quite successful in this endeavor. So how then, in the midst of the temptation and confusion, can an individual discern what is divine and true from what is earthly and false? One need only follow the example of our Savior, and test all things against scripture; against God’s revelation to mankind. Anything that is incompatible with the scriptures is not of God.

Concerning confusion, many airplane pilots will eventually encounter situations that lead to spatial disorientation. Spatial disorientation is the phenomenon that occurs when a pilot has a mistaken sense of their position and motion in relation to the Earth. This condition can occur because of fog, clouds, haze, darkness, etc. When a pilot loses control of their visual senses, they must rely solely on their aircraft’s instruments to understand their altitude, speed, and direction. Despite the reliability of these instruments, many succumb to panic. This loss of control creates extreme anxiety, which in turn prompts the pilot to prioritize their perceived instincts ahead of their logical minds. Believing their gauges to be faulty, they come to trust in their emotions and feelings. This misplaced trust causes airplanes to crash into the Earth.

Like these confused airplane pilots, those who follow Christ can be introduced to ideas and doctrines that are new, strange, and peculiar. If they rely on their emotions they are bound to encounter destruction. Like any good pilot looking at his gauges to discern what is right, Christians must look at their bibles to alleviate any confusion. If any belief or practice doesn’t conform to the scriptures, then it is most likely a false teaching. May we all look to the word of God for direction and discernment.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we come before you as humble servants. We desire to walk in the truth and to avoid committing ourselves to the practice of false doctrines. Protect our hearts and minds, and grant us discernment. May we have a hunger for Your word and a desire to accomplish Your will at all times and in every place. 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 name, amen.” God bless all of you!