Temptation

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6: 19 – 21)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

     Jesus urges every follower to remain focused on the virtues that are eternal, rather than indulging in the momentary enjoyment of some passing pleasure. We are told in 1 Peter 5: 8, to “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  One of Satan’s most efficient tactics is to create blindness. He elevates the allure of a present desire, while simultaneously concealing the long-term, or eternal consequences that will eventually arise as a result of engaging in some sinful activity.

Adultery is one of the most serious sins an individual can commit. Infidelity destroys families and devestates entire households. We read in proverbs 9: 13 – 18, “A foolish woman is clamorous; she is simple, and knows nothing. For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat by the highest places of the city, to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their way: ‘Whoever is simple, let him turn in here’; and as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, “stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.’ But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell.” This woman’s plan was to corrupt those who were innocent; to blind human beings by emphasizing the enjoyment of immediate gratification; adultery may appeal to the flesh but it is destructive to the Spirit. Those who are deceived will act without contemplating their future torment. They can’t comprehend the ugliness of an eventual divorce; they can’t envision the trauma their children will endure, or the loneliness of partial custody. Like brute beasts they can see only what is right in front of their face, and no more.

As long as mankind walks upon this Earth, Satan will continue his campaign of temptation; presenting us with momentary pleasures devoid of eventual consequence. How then can we resist the trickery he employs to corrupt and defile those who love Jesus Christ? Simply put, we must emphasize and remain focused upon eternal virtues; things such as fidelity, selflessness, honesty, respect, charity, and kindness. The light of God’s eternal kingdom illuminates the devil’s lies and creates a genuine vision of those things which the Lord values.

“Dear Heavenly Father, may we avoid distraction and remain focused on our eternal destination with You in Your Kingdom. Protect us from sinful temptations that could arise and cause us to suffer. May we see the end from the beginning. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit Lord, that we might preach the gospel with boldness. 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!

Rejoice in Persecution

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

    “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake.  Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5: 10 – 12)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

    From the time of the resurrection until today, true believers have always been verbally and physically persecuted for their faith.  Of the original 12 disciples, 11 were violently murdered, and the twelfth was imprisoned for life.  Throughout the centuries, the body of Christ has suffered affliction; millions have been martyred; many more have been discriminated against, despised, and socially ostracized.  Jesus said, “Remember the words I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you.”  Because persecution is a sign of genuine obedience, many are able to take pleasure in adversity; in the midst of hardship the faithful are not without a sense of peace; for to endure pain for Christ is to experience great joy, and to suffer and die for him is to understand what it means to truly live.

  Throughout the fourth century, the Roman Empire was actively persecuting professing Christians.  In the year 320 A.D. a group of believing soldiers from Rome’s twelfth legion paid the ultimate price for their faith.  The Emperor Licinius decreed that every Roman soldier was obligated to offer sacrifices to the pagan Gods.  Forty Christian men refused to obey his command; in turn, they were immediately ordered to disrobe. After being marched onto a frozen lake they were informed that they could return to shore at any time, as long as they were willing to obey (the officers had even prepared hot baths for those who chose to relent.)  As they froze, the exposed soldiers huddled together and began to sing songs and to praise God; in their hour of suffering they expressed overwhelming joy.)  One by one, they perished.  Sadly, a single solitary man did relent; but astonishingly another soldier who had been observing the spectacle was so moved by what he had seen that he instantly gave his life to Jesus Christ; he removed his clothes and walked out on to the ice to join his dying brothers.

    Persecution is a part of genuine faith.  Those who oppose God, will oppose those who follow Him.  Obedience can produce much suffering.  When we suffer for righteousness, we can rejoice and be glad, knowing that we serve the Living God.  We must take up our cross; we must speak the truth; we must love without question, and give without stipulation.  We must walk by faith and avoid compromise.  In so doing, God will strengthen us in the hour of our greatest need; He will comfort us; He will give us victory; and we will inherit the riches of His Eternal Kingdom.

    “Lord Heavenly Father, as we undergo trials give us strength and fill us with Your Holy Spirit; that we may rejoice in suffering and persecution.  May we always praise Your Name; in good times and in bad.  May we never compromise; may we never be conformed to the image of this world.  May we live for righteousness and may we die for virtue.  Father, we love You, 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 Least of These

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'” (Matthew 25: 31 – 40)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

When Jesus returns, He will establish His perfect Kingdom upon the Earth. Those who have been obedient will inherit everlasting life; whereas the disobedient will experience eternal judgement. In this scripture Christ establishes a remarkable truth. When we feed the hungry, give water to the thirsty, show hospitality toward strangers, clothe the naked, and visit those who are sick and in prison, we are exhibiting a genuine love for God. Acts of kindness toward others are equivalent to the displays of affection we direct toward Jesus Christ Himself. In short, serving others and serving God are identical. The degree of love we exhibit toward others is an exact reflection of our love for God.

Concerning affection, a little boy once declared that he loved his mother “with all his strength.” He was asked to explain what he meant by “with all his strength.” He said: “Well, I’ll tell you. You see, we live on the fourth floor of this tenement; and there’s no elevator, and the coal is kept down in the basement. Mother is busy all the time, and she isn’t very strong; so I see to it that the coal hold is never empty. I lug the coal up four flights of stairs all by myself. And it’s a pretty big hold. It takes all my strength to get it up here. Now isn’t that loving my mother with all my strength?”

This little boy’s affection for his mother was remarkable. Similarly, we as believers possess a monumental adoration for our Eternal Father. When we love God with all our strength, we will love and serve others in a similar manner. Today there are endless opportunities to serve The Lord, by simply serving and providing for the needs of our fellows. We can serve our families, our friends, our coworkers, our acquaintances, and even complete strangers. In so doing, the presence of God will be revealed in us, and the light of Christ will shine forth for all to see.

“Lord Heavenly Father, You are an awesome and amazing God; worthy of all honor and glory. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we might love You with all our strength and remain obedient to Your will. May we serve You by serving our fellows; knowing that our love for them is equivalent to our love for You. We cherish 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!