Category: Jesus Speaks

Letting Go, Grabbing Hold

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

     “Again, the kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Mathew 13: 45-46.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

     The message of “The kingdom of God,” is priceless; it is a treasure more valuable than gold and silver, and more precious than diamonds.  For contained within it is the love of God and the gift of eternal life.  As Jesus preached the message, a fortunate few recognized the truth and were willing to trade in everything they possessed to receive the Lord’s everlasting gift.  Many who came to believe willingly sacrificed great wealth, time, relationships, homes, and positions of prestige within the community, in order to take hold of the true riches of God’s everlasting kingdom.  As believers, we too are called to let go of the world in order to fully embrace Christianity.

    Interestingly enough, some people make a living letting go of one thing so they can grab hold of another.  Trapeze performers for example, swing effortlessly back and forth, high above cold concrete floors.  For these men and women, timing and precision can mean the difference between living and dying.  The individual who risks their life to spin through the air must know when to let go of their swing and when to grab hold of their partner dangling from the opposite swing.  So too, the gospel is a message about ‘letting go’ and ‘grabbing hold;’ no one can ‘grab hold’ of the Kingdom of God unless they fist ‘let go’ of whatever they are clinging too in this world.  For the believer, the pursuit of empty rewards must end, and the pursuit of Godly rewards must begin.

     Sadly, during the Lord’s public ministry, thousands simply passed by Him as He spoke; they chose to cling to their own lives rather than to grab hold of God and the life He was offering them.  Today, the Lord is still speaking; His message is still being proclaimed throughout the world.  And yes, even today many still choose the temporary pleasures of this life over the eternal peace of God.  They refuse because the Christian life is not easy.  There are many trials and hardships that accompany genuine faith.  Self-sacrifice and self-denial aren’t always popular, but they are necessary.  May we all choose to let go of our selfish pursuits.  May we loosen our grasp on the things of this world and grab hold of and embrace the free gift of God.

   “Lord Heavenly Father, we come before You and we ask that You give us the strength to avoid selfish pursuits; we long to serve others, and to sacrifice our lives to accomplish Your desires.  May we receive your kingdom with gladness, and may we let go of anything that is hindering us from completely submitting to Your perfect will.  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 we pray, amen.”  God bless all of you!

The Real Jesus

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

    And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to him, “Are you the coming one, or do we look for another?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see:  The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of me” (Mathew 11: 2-6.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

    John, believing Jesus to be the long awaited messiah, erred in assuming he would immediately usher in an earthly kingdom; thereby putting an end to the oppressive Roman rule. While in captivity, the prophet had grown impatient with Jesus; sending messengers to Him from his prison cell. ‘Was He truly the long awaited savior; or should they look for another?’ Jesus responded by quoting an ancient prophecy describing the Messiah’s good works. He would heal the blind, raise the dead, and preach the gospel to the poor; the very same acts that Jesus was accomplishing. The Lord then addressed John’s uneasy heart, saying, “Blessed are those who are not offended because of Me.” John was expecting a conquering messiah, not a messiah that would conquer sin through crucifixion. Like John, many today have an inaccurate perception of who the messiah actually is. Knowing the real Jesus is an absolute necessity if we are to properly follow Him.

    Shortly after my conversion, I decided I could no longer call myself a Christian unless I actually knew who Jesus Christ was. I had to read the bible for myself; knowing full well that in so doing, many of my previously held beliefs would be challenged and transformed. In order to grab hold of the truth, I had to abandon my fuzzy perceptions of God. As I read the scriptures, I came to accurately know my creator. Still, instead of being disappointed, I was filled with awe and wonder. The real Jesus is far more spectacular than any messiah I could have ever imagined.

    Do you know the real Jesus; or are you clinging to some incorrect perceptions?  Have you invented a messiah, or have you discovered Him? Read His words; uncover His works; His message; and His truth; and you too will find something more amazing than you have ever known; and your life will never be the same.

    “Lord Heavenly Father, we seek to know the real Jesus.  Place His words in our hearts, that we might walk as disciples; exhibiting obedience in all that we do. May we never run from the truth, but rather, may we embrace 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!

God is in Complete Control

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

    Pilate […] went again in to the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?”  But Jesus gave him no answer.  Then Pilate said to him, “Are you not speaking to me?  Do you not know that I have power to crucify you, and power to release you?”  Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against me unless it had been given you from above.  Therefore the one who delivered me to you has the greater sin.”  (John 19: 8 – 11.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

     Bound, bloodied and beaten, Jesus Christ stood before Pontius Pilate (the Roman Governor of Judea.)  The Jews adamantly demanded He be sentenced to death.  And yet, not wanting to kill an innocent man, Pilate proceeded to question Him; initially however, Jesus remained silent.  Unaware that he was standing before the Son of God, Pilate warned Him that His silence could lead to His crucifixion.  Still the Lord corrected the Governor; reminding him that it was God alone who would dictate the sentence.  Pilate mistakenly believed that he was in control of the outcome of the trial; when in reality, he was merely an instrument in the hands of God; a tool used to bring about the Father’s eternal plan of salvation.   

     Even today, many look back upon the events surrounding Christ’s death and blame the Romans or the corrupt Jewish leadership.  Jesus Christ however, was not murdered; His crucifixion was not the work of man, but rather, the work of God.  He wasn’t forced to endure the cross; He chose to endure it.  The nails didn’t hold Him in place on that fateful day either; instead, it was love that kept Him pinned to the cross.  He died freely to accomplish the will of God. The cross is therefore not a symbol of anguish, but an emblem of grace and mercy; for upon the cross the Lord endured the punishment for our sins; that through His selfless action, we might all enter into fellowship with the Almighty God.  Sacrifice is the ultimate expression of affection; Christ’s death is a love letter addressed to all mankind.

     Have you come to know the love of God?  Do you know why Jesus Christ died for you?  He died so all those who believe can draw near to their eternal Father.  Accept God’s sacrifice and invite Him into your heart.  Give Him your life and let Him guide you.  He will love you and protect you.  Surrender to your creator and you will know true peace.  Open your heart to the Son of God and receive His blessings.  By accepting the gift of salvation, your heart will overflow with unending joy.

     “Lord Heavenly Father, we accept Your sacrifice, and we thank You for sending Your Son to die for us.  His blood is our blessing; may we surrender our lives to You now.  Draw near to us Father, that we might intimately know You.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and give us new life; that you may dwell in our hearts forever.  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.  Amen.”  God bless all of you!