Category: devotional

Professing Our Faith

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

    “I also say to you, whoever confesses me before men, him the son of man will confess before the angels of God.  But he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God” (Luke 12: 8 – 9.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

  Pride plays an essential role in what we choose to communicate to others; most intuitively hide what is unimportant or shameful, while simultaneously expressing the things that are of great value.  In American culture, individuals utilize social media to post quotes, publish photos, and transmit thoughts.  Similarly, others may use billboards, bumper stickers, t-shirts, and jewelry to convey their beliefs to the public.  And yet, in a nation reportedly comprised of millions of Christians, Jesus Christ very rarely occupies the top position.   He is often displaced by more important things; like a career, a family, a political candidate, a sports team, a noteworthy cause, or even a unique lifestyle.

   Throughout history Christians have been persecuted for their outward professions of faith.  In many countries today, those who openly convert from Islam to Christianity will endure imprisonment and execution.  Only a lucky few are afforded the right to a trial; during these mock proceedings, evidence of a true conversion is presented against the accused.  To test the genuineness of our faith, we can ask ourselves a hypothetical question: “If we were to go on trial for our lives, what evidence would our accusers have to convict us of being real Christians?”  Would we be blamed for spreading the gospel?  Would we be found guilty of outwardly displaying our beliefs without shame or remorse?  Would others willingly testify that we have followed the teachings of Jesus Christ?  Would we be condemned for our love, and convicted by our faith?

    Those who are proud to be disciples are truly committed to the Lord.  As believers we must actively seek to express our faith in obvious and practical ways; through our words, our deeds, and our nonverbal communication.  Whether it’s the bumper sticker that reads, “Jesus is Lord,” or the cross that hangs from our neck, outward displays of devotion strengthen our relationship with God.  Each time we openly express our love for Christ, we grow closer to our Heavenly Father; who in turn, pours out upon us, all of His spiritual blessings.

   “Lord Heavenly Father, give us the strength and the desire to share our faith with others.  May we never be ashamed to be called Your Sons and Daughters.  Continue to be our number one love; may nothing ever come before You.  In Your wisdom, give us opportunities to communicate Your message to those who are devoid of understanding; that they too would come to know You as we have.  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!

Don’t be Lukewarm

~ servantone1

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 into a crowded coliseum and plunged into a vat of boiling oil.  But when he remained unharmed, the masses 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.) While in exile on this island, in about the year 95 A.D., an aging John 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.  For some reason the Laodicean church had become lukewarm. They were once bold, zealous, and uncompromising; and yet over time they had succumb to personal comfort, complacency, and routine.  Jesus rebuked them; commanding them to obey His directives: to be zealous again; to be bold; to spread the gospel; to serve others and to work hard to save souls.  God’s message to the Laodiceans is timeless; it pertains directly 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.  We must all continue to serve God to the fullest. If we stop serving Him, we 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 otherwise healthy individuals 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 consequences.  To lose enthusiasm for God’s message is to fail to fulfill the highest calling of God.  As believers, we must fervently work for the Lord until He returns to gather us together.

    Are we eager to serve God and others today; or have we been serving ourselves?  Are we on fire for the Lord, or have we become cold?  Are we readily spreading the gospel, or have we fallen silent?  Have we faded into the background, or do we speak the truth with boldness?  We must be brave and reach out for Christ.  May our heart be ignited by the consuming fire of the Holy Spirit.  May the words of God flow from our mouths, and may our good works never cease; may God use us to transform others; and may we always represent the church of God with conviction and zeal.

    “Lord Heavenly Father, fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that our hearts may burn for You.  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 stop serving others, knowing that one day we will have our rest in You.  We love You Lord, 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 we pray, Amen.”  God bless all of you!

Receiving God’s Message

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

   “I have manifested your name to the men whom you have given me out of the world.  They were Yours, you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.  Now they have known that all things which you have given me are from you.  For I have given them the words which you have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from you; and they have believed that that You sent me” (John 17: 6-8.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

  Jesus began speaking directly to God in the presence of his disciples.  He identified his task and acknowledged that it had been accomplished.  His duty was to make God known to all those who were willing to listen.  The true children of God heard Jesus, accepted him as God’s messenger, and received his words as the words of God.  The Lord had given the disciples to Jesus; to teach, to love, to protect, and to nurture.  Today, God is still selecting individuals out of the world, to become His eternal possessions.  Anyone who accepts the message of Jesus Christ is a true child of God.  Those who follow God are saved, but those who choose to ignore His message will perish.

    In 1912 the Titanic slipped beneath the icy waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Nearly 1000 people joined the ship on its journey to the bottom of the ocean.  Although there weren’t enough lifeboats to carry all of the passengers, no one truly needed to die.  Most people are unaware that a large ship named ‘The Californian’ was less than 20 miles away that night (close enough to have saved most of Titanic’s passengers.)  ‘The Californian’ received the distress calls from the Titanic (via radio communication and lamps;) they even observed nearly 8 distress flares, and the crew members later testified that the Titanic appeared to be listing in the water (leaning to one side.)  No one but God knows why, but for some reason the captain of ‘The Californian’ didn’t seem to take these messages seriously; he returned to bed after hearing the reports.  During an official inquiry into the captain’s actions, he remained elusive, continually changing his story; he even made attempts to doctor the log book and change their reported position on the evening of the tragedy.  The real circumstances of his inaction were never clear.  Many however went on to speculate that the Captain simply didn’t take the messages seriously.  He had heard the reports, but didn’t believe them, and for that reason 1000 people lost their lives.

   Jesus Christ, and the words that he spoke are God’s signal flares in a very dark and frigid world.  Some see the signals, and they are drawn to Him.  They see Jesus and know that He is God’s message, and because they believe in that message they are saved from death.  Sadly, no matter how many flares He sends up pointing to His Son, most will never take God’s message seriously. Jesus Christ is God’s message to us all.  Those who respond, will follow Jesus and dedicate their lives to spreading His message.  The initial response is your belief?  Do you believe today that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and that because of your faith in Him you have been granted eternal life?

    “Lord heavenly Father, we come before You and we ask that You increase our faith.  We desire to be Yours, and we believe Your message and accept Your words.  We await the life You have promised us, and we ask that you strengthen us in this world to do Your work.  Give us a desire to spread Your message to others, that we would make more disciples, and bring others out of death and into life.  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!