The True Meaning of Life

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

                Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said:  “Father, the hour has come.  Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may bring glory to You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.  And this is eternal life, that they also may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.  I have glorified You on the earth.  I have finished the work which You have given Me to do” (John 17: 1-4.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

                Jesus performed many miracles; he presented the gospel, he healed the sick; he brought hope to the hopeless; he even raised the dead; yet despite his many profound acts, his suffering was his greatest work.  The single most prolific event in human history was, and always will be the crucifixion of Jesus Christ; for God glorified his Son by lifting him up upon the cross (high enough for the whole world to see.)  The cross is a love letter from God to mankind; it is an invitation to know the almighty creator.  [Every human being desires to know their true purpose; Jesus has taught us that we were created to know and love God (Jesus said, “And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God.”)  Unless one accepts the blood of Christ, they will never be complete; they will never experience peace; they will never know their true purpose.]

                For many years I was an atheist/agnostic.  I rejected the bible and the idea that there was a loving God.  In turn, I sought to discover the truth through learning; I studied philosophy, physics, and cosmology.  I read the works of great thinkers; people who were renowned for their supposed wisdom.  I wanted to know the meaning of life; why was I here; what was my purpose?  Despite diligently seeking the truth, I never found it.  Those intelligent men I idolized were great at asking interesting questions, but miserable at providing any meaningful answers.  When I finally accepted Jesus Christ, my many years of searching were over; at last, I had discovered the truth.  I had all of the answers to every question I could ever ask.  I understood that I was created to bring pleasure to God; to serve Him, to love Him, and to be loved by Him.  For the first time in my life I began to know peace.

                The meaning of life is to love God, and to be loved by Him.  The sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross is God’s gift to every human being; it is His invitation to experience fulfillment.  Stop searching and embrace your true purpose.  Accept Christ’s work of redemption and you will know peace; love God and He will love you; give yourself to the Lord and you will finally be complete.

                “Lord Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your sacrifice and we accept it; may we live in eternal fellowship with You; may we know true peace and may we fulfill our intended purpose; may we always be pleasing to You; may we create joy in Your heart; and may we feel the awesome power of Your love and Mercy.  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.

Who can be trusted?

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

 “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.  Which of you convicts me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?” (John 8: 46-46.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

No human being can live a completely sinless life.  Jesus however, being the Son of God, never once indulged in iniquity.  He was so confident of his own moral perfection, that he publicly challenged any willing soul to accuse him of sin.  In turn, his numerous enemies watched and waited, hoping he would make some grave error.  Despite continuous inspection and constant observation, he spoke plainly and publicly.  No one, not a single person, could find him guilty of sin.  In fact, at his trial, Pontius Pilate actually said of Jesus, “I find no fault in this man.”  Still he was crucified.  Trusting a sinless man makes more sense than trusting a sinful one.

Throughout history there have been many self-proclaimed prophets; men who asked for trust, but were themselves untrustworthy; none of these liars ever dared place their own personal lives under examination.  Joseph Smith for example (founder of the Mormon faith) claimed to be God’s chosen messenger sexual impurity.  He married many women without telling his first wife Emma.  He also married other men’s wives in secret, and engaged in wife-swapping; he even went so far as to marry both a mother and her daughter (an offense punishable by death, according to God’s law.)  Unlike Jesus who invited others to scrutinize his life, Joseph Smith viciously sought to keep his sins a secret.  After being kicked out Missouri, Joseph and his followers went to the town of Nauvoo Illinois; the local newspaper began printing articles about his many wives and his sexual indiscretions; in June of 1844, fearing he might be exposed, Joseph ordered his followers to destroy the printing press; they broke in to the paper office, dragged the machine in to the street, and smashed it with sludge hammers.  Smith was arrested for this crime and later killed in jail.

Unlike Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ had nothing to hide; his life was without sin; he never lied, never exploited anyone, and never abused his position of authority to indulge in selfish pleasures.  Instead he served others, loved others, and brought the word of God to all those who were willing to listen.  Only Jesus Christ can be trusted; only our messiah is worthy of praise and honor.  Won’t you put your faith and trust in him today?  Obey him and follow him, and he will lead you in to eternal life; you will know true freedom, and you will take hold of the ‘peace that surpasses all understanding.’

“Lord Heavenly Father we praise You and we thank You for Your Son.  He is sinless and completely trustworthy.  Help us to submit to his leadership; may he be at the center of our lives.  May we be more like him, and may we trust him with our whole hearts.  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.

Love for God’s Messangers

~ servantone1

 

JESUS SPEAKING

                “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives Him who sent me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward” (Mathew 10: 40 – 42.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTs
                In the first century there were no computers or telephones; nor was there any formal postal service. Therefore, long distance communication was carried out by personal messenger. Generally, when the individual carrying a message had arrived, they were received warmly and treated with great love and respect (most were provided with food, water, and lodging.) To disrespect and neglect a messenger was to disrespect and neglect the one who had sent him.

                Many centuries before Jesus Christ arrived, there lived a very powerful old testament prophet named Elijah. Due to the wickedness of King Ahab, Elijah was forced to pronounce a drought upon the nation of Israel. Eventually, the land became so dry that many began to starve. During this time, God instructed the prophet to travel to a foreign land (where he was to lodge with a widow and her son.) Upon arriving he asked the unfortunate woman for some bread. She replied, saying, “I do not have bread, only a handful of flour in a bin, and a little oil in a jar; and see, I am gathering sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son; that we may eat it, and die.” Elijah replied saying, “Do not fear […] but make a small cake from it first, and bring it to me; and afterward make some for yourself and your son for thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.’” The widow woman did as she was told and God continually filled the bin with flour and the jar with oil (because she had shown love toward God’s messenger, she also received his reward: as others died, the widow and her son remained unharmed.)

               Each member of the body of Christ is a prophet; every priest, pastor,  teacher, evangelist, and elder carries an important message from the Lord. Those who love and care for God’s messengers, love and care for God Himself. When we support a missionary we receive their blessings. When we give to the church, we share in their labors, and reap their rewards. When we serve those who serve God, we serve Jesus Christ. Get involved at a church and ask how you can be of service; look for opportunities to love those who carry God’s message, and you will know the true riches of His mercy and grace.

                “Lord Heavenly Father we desire to love those whom You have sent. Provide us with opportunities to receive Your disciples, Your teachers, and Your prophets. May we draw near to Your messengers, and give to those who faithfully serve You; that we might obtain the blessings You have so graciously bestowed upon them. 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.