Receiving the Message

April 23, 2018 ~ 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 was speaking directly to God in the presence of his disciples. He identified his task, and acknowledged that it had been completed. His task was to make God known to all those willing to listen. The true children of God listened to Jesus, accepted him as God’s messenger, and received his words as the very words of God. God gave those children (the disciples), to Jesus, to teach, to love, to protect, and to nurture. Today, God is still selecting people out of the world, to be his eternal possessions. Anyone who accepts the message of Jesus Christ, has become a true child of God. We believe his words are God’s words; we believe his ways are God’s ways; and we believe his followers are God’s followers. Those who follow God are saved, but those who choose to ignore His message will perish.

In 1912 the Titanic slipped beneath the icy evening waves of the Atlantic Ocean; nearly 1000 people joined it on its journey to the bottom of the ocean depths. There weren’t enough lifeboats to carry all of the passengers; but no one needed to die. Most are unaware that there was a large ship named ‘The Californian,’ less than 20 miles away that evening (close enough to have saved most of Titanic’s passengers.) ‘The Californian’ received distress calls from the Titanic (via radio and lamps;) they also saw 8 distress flares, and 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 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 in to 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 would speculate that the Captain simply didn’t take the messages seriously. He heard the reports, but he 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 very cold world. Some see the signals, and they are drawn to him. They see Jesus, and realize that he is God’s message, and because they believe 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; for that they will perish in darkness. Jesus Christ is God’s message to you. Will you respond to that message? Those who respond follow Jesus and dedicate their lives to spreading his message to others. The initial response is your belief? Do you believe today that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, and that by your faith in him you have eternal life?

“Lord heavenly Father, we come before You, and we ask that You please accept our allegiance to You and to Your Son. We desire to be Yours, and we believe Your message, and we accept Your word. We await the life you have promised, 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 in to life. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.” God bless all of you.

Using Our Wealth to Glorify God

April 16, 2018 ~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12: 32-34.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

Jesus commanded his followers to sell their earthly possessions and use the profits to help those in need. For each sacrifice, he promised a future reward held for them in God’s eternal kingdom. Although many amass great amounts of excess wealth, all possessions are impermanent; nothing tangible is of any eternal value. Banks fail, thieves break in and steal, and death is inevitable. No living person can carry any possessions from this life to the next; everything is left behind. Yet, for those who have heeded the command of Christ, far greater treasures await; no compassionate contribution, selfless act, or sacrificial donation is ever lost. The Lord will credit those who have made charity ‘the backbone’ of their existence. Death cannot take from the unselfish, what remains within the living God. He is a divine vault that contains an eternal treasure. In Him, every believer who has sacrificed their belongings will inherit the true riches of eternal life [Note: Some things are necessary for living; if you own a home, a car, a computer, God is not necessarily asking you to sell them; especially if they are essential; pray about what Jesus Christ might be asking you to relinquish and use for His glory.]

In the Old Testament, when Solomon succeeded his Father David as king, the Nation of Israel was at its Zenith; making him one of the wealthiest men who has ever lived. Over the course of his 40 year reign he earned nearly 40 billion dollars worth of Gold (based on one estimate.) He also acquired 700 wives and three hundred concubines. He sat on a large mechanical throne covered in gold figures, which was allegedly carried around with him wherever he went. His monumental building projects astonished onlookers for generations. He constructed the temple in Jerusalem (one of the largest buildings ever created in the ancient world.) His palace took 13 years to build and all of his drinking vessels were made of pure gold. He owned many exotic animals and bread thousands of horses. He owned 1,400 chariots and employed 12,000 horsemen. Foreign rulers, the world over, traveled to his Kingdom to marvel at its prosperity. The bible records that Solomon “made silver as common in Jerusalem as stones.” With so much wealth and power, did Solomon live a satisfying life? The answer can be found in the book of Ecclesiastes, which he wrote near the end of his life. As he looked back upon his actions and accomplishments, he expressed extreme regret. He concluded that the large buildings, the Gold and silver, the women, the exotic foods, the fine clothes, and the abundant possessions were all meaningless. He wrote “He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, by increase […] there is a severe evil which I have seen under the sun: riches kept for their owner to his hurt […] as he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came; and he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand […] just exactly as he came, so shall he go.” As death approached, King Solomon had finally discovered the true value of wealth; homes are unimportant, bank accounts are trivial, and fine clothes are insignificant; but generosity lasts forever.

Jesus Christ continually reminds the world of the truth that Solomon discovered so many years ago; wealth is only valuable when it is used to bless others. Those who have utilized their excesses to help the poor are in fact wealthier than the richest man who has ever lived. For when death arrives, the wealthy man will have nothing, but the faithful believer will inherit true riches; everlasting possessions that cannot be taken away. Our wealth serves no purpose, unless it serves His purpose. The things we have that are not being used, can be used to glorify God and to help others.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we come before You and ask that You give us the strength and the courage to use our wealth for Your purposes. May our excesses be given over to help those in need. Give us opportunities to be instruments of kindness; may we abandon ourselves to You. May our lives be lived in sacrifice, and self-denial; and may we one day inherit the true riches of Your glorious Kingdom. 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.

The Tenth Commandment

April 9, 2018 ~ servantone1

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.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

Jesus fervently warned his followers to avoid covetousness. Those who covet strongly desire the belongings of others; as a result they lack the proper gratitude for what they have been given. Due to the destructive nature of this particular sin, God gave mankind the tenth commandment; which states: “You shall not covet (desire) your neighbor’s house, you shall not covet (desire) your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” Covetousness is dangerous because it can lead to a number of other sins such as theft, adultery, and even murder.

In ancient times, King David was an extremely powerful man who possessed great riches. He had countless wives and concubines at his disposal to satisfy his physical needs. Yet, one evening, while walking along the rooftop of his palace, his eyes beheld a woman bathing naked. Her name was Bathsheba; the spouse of a military commander named Uriah. David abruptly began coveting her, and eventually committed the act of adultery. He was soon informed that Bathsheba had conceived and was with child. After numerous attempts to cover up his dreadful deed, David finally had Uriah murdered in battle; thus taking Bathsheba to be his wife. King David was later judged for his sin and the penalty was severe.

As faithful servants, we must be careful to continually maintain a spirit of gratitude, and to take pleasure in what the Lord has given us. In so doing, we will fulfill the tenth commandment and avoid covetousness. May we never desire the possessions of others; may we always remain grateful for what we have been given; and may God grant us true contentment and everlasting peace.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your many blessings. Fill us continually with unending gratitude and genuine appreciation. If we have broken the tenth commandment convict our hearts and help us to change. May we never desire the possessions of others; but instead take pleasure in the gifts that You have 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.