The Source of All Power

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JESUS SPEAKING

Then they said to him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6: 28 – 29)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

Everywhere Jesus went the crowds went with him; having witnessed His countless miracles, the masses desperately sought to discover how they too might accomplish similar feats of greatness. Jesus answered them saying, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” According to the Lord, righteousness and divine power are the offspring of a life founded on genuine faith; faith in the Son of God; faith that His teachings are God’s revelation to mankind; faith that He is seated at the creator’s right hand; faith that He loves us and that through Him we are reconciled to our Almighty and Everlasting Father. The Messiah is the source of all our power; only through Jesus can we hope to accomplish God’s will.
Some time ago I purchased a saw from a local hardware store. Unfortunately the saw suddenly shut down while I was using it. I tried everything to get it to start again. I fiddled with it; I read the directions more thoroughly; I searched the internet for similar problems. Eventually I had to bring the saw back to the store and exchange it for a different one. After returning home, I plugged in the new saw; sadly it didn’t work either. My frustration drove me to try a different socket, and sure enough, the blade began to spin. I soon discovered that a local fuse had blown which only affected a couple of outlets in the house. Needless to say, I was more than a little embarrassed. The saw had never been broken; instead, it stopped working because it had become separated from the source of it’s power.
Like my saw, many today are disconnected from the source of all divine power. Without faith in Jesus Christ they are unable to function properly. Those who do place their faith in God’s Son grow strong and continue to mature. They possess great peace and an enduring hope; they are given the ability to live righteously and to accomplish many wonderful works in the lives of others. May we continue to place our faith in Jesus Christ. May we never turn away from the source of our strength, that our lives may continue to be a testament to God’s power and majesty.
“Lord Heavenly Father, we believe in Your Son and we acknowledge His power. Increase our faith that we might grow stronger and be more like You. Accomplish Your works in us and through us, that our lives may be a testament of Your goodness and mercy. 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!

Discipline

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JESUS SPEAKING

“Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7: 13-14)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

In ancient times, cities were surrounded by protective walls; necessitating the creation of access gates that could be shuttered during enemy attacks. A wide gate is easy to enter; it’s much quicker, more convenient, and requires very little restraint. A narrow gate however, is harder to access, more time consuming, far less convenient, and demands selflessness. Thus the path to eternal life necessitates great discipline and control.

Concerning discipline, we need only examine an illustration from the Old Testament. During Israel’s war with the Midianites, Gideon commanded an army of thousands. Following God’s direction, 22,000 soldiers were sent home; leaving only 10,000 men. And yet God instructed him to reduce the number of his forces even further; thus granting God greater glory for their victory. The Lord insisted the remaining men be tested. And so Gideon was ordered to bring his troops down to the water to drink. All those who dropped to their knees or lapped up the water like dogs were sent home. Those who showed discipline and restraint by using their hands to bring the water to their mouths were chosen by God to continue fighting. This test yielded a group of only 300 men. And still God used this small force to defeat thousands of Midianites.

Like Gideon’s 300 men, we as Christians are commanded to live disciplined lives. We must show control and restraint over our fleshly desires and appetites. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can grant us victory over our enemies and give us the strength to follow Christ through that narrow gate. May the Lord Jesus live and reign in our hearts and minds forever.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we desire to enter through the narrow gate. Give us more of Your Holy Spirit, that we might withstand the temptations of the flesh and exhibit discipline and restraint. May we choose what is good and avoid what is evil. To You be all honor and glory, forever. 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!

Avoid Covetousness

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JESUS SPEAKING

Then one from the crowd spoke to Jesus saying, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” (Luke 12: 13 – 15)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

Jesus openly rebuked a man for coveting his brother’s wealth. Covetousness is defined as a strong desire to obtain the possessions of others. This jealous instinct is so pervasive that God issued the tenth commandment, which reads, “You shall not covet your neighbors house; you shall not covet your neighbors wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbors.” (Exodus 20: 17)

In the Old Testament, King Ahab strongly desired a piece of property that belonged to another man. He attempted to purchase the parcel, but Naboth the owner rejected his offer. As a result, Ahab became depressed and upset. He retreated into isolation and refused to eat. All of this displeasure, despite owning many lands and an abundance of property. In response, the King’s wife Jezebel sought to acquire the vineyard at any cost. Using lies, she plotted evil against Naboth and had him murdered. Despite knowing how Naboth had died, Ahab arose and took possession of the vineyard. In turn, God sent the prophet Elijah to proclaim a punishment against Ahab and Jezebel for their treacherous behavior. Both of them would eventually die in horrific ways.

If not quickly corrected, covetousness can lead to suffering and punishment. How then do we avoid breaking the 10th commandment? By taking pleasure in and enjoying all of the blessings and possessions that God has given us. When we stop being grateful for what the Lord has provided in the present, we may succumb to jealousy. Ultimately, a spirit of continual gratitude is the cure for covetousness. May we all enjoy and be grateful for what we have been given.

“Lord Heavenly Father, give us the wisdom and knowledge to avoid covetousness. May we never be anxious to acquire the possessions of others. Create purity in our hearts, and extinguish any evil desires that might arise in our minds. May we experience continual gratitude for all of the things that you have so graciously given us. 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!