Tag: Faith

Get plugged in

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

            Then they said to him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom He has sent” (John 6: 28 – 29.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

                Everywhere Jesus went the crowds went with him; having witnessed his countless miracles, the masses desperately sought to discover how they too might accomplish similar feats of greatness.  Jesus answered saying, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom He has sent.”  According to the Lord, righteousness and divine power are the offspring of a life built firmly upon the foundation of genuine faith; faith in the Son of God; faith that his teachings are God’s revelation to mankind; faith that he is seated at the creator’s right hand; faith that he loves us and that through him we are reconciled to our Almighty and Everlasting Father.  The messiah is the source of all power; only through him can we hope to accomplish God’s will. 

                Some time ago I purchased a saw from a local hardware store.  Unfortunately the saw suddenly shut down while I was using it; I tried everything to get it to work again.  I fiddled with it; I read the directions more thoroughly; I searched the internet for similar problems.  Eventually I had to bring the saw back to store and exchange it for a different model.  After returning home, I plugged in the new saw; sadly it didn’t work either.  My frustration drove me to try a different socket, and sure enough, the blade began to spin.  I soon discovered that a local fuse had blown which affected only a couple of outlets in the house.  I was needless to say, more than a little embarrassed.  The saw had never been broken; instead, it stopped working because it had become separated from the source of its power.

                Like my saw, many are disconnected from the source of all divine power.  Without faith in Jesus Christ most are unable to function properly.  Those who do place their faith in God’s Son grow strong and continue to mature.  They possess great peace and great hope; they have the ability to live righteously and to accomplish many wonderful works in the lives of others.  May we continue to place our faith in Jesus Christ.  May we never turn away from the source of our strength that our lives may continue to be a testament to God’s power and majesty.

                “Lord Heavenly Father, we believe in Your Son and we acknowledge his power.  Increase our faith that we might grow stronger and be more like You.  Accomplish Your works in us and through us, that our lives may testify of Your goodness 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.

Eradicating Doubt

~ servantone1

JESUS SPEAKING

            And he left them, and getting in to a boat again (with his disciples), departed to the other side.  Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, and they did not have more than one loaf with them in the boat.  Then he charged them, saying, “Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, “It is because we have no bread.”  But Jesus being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread?  Do you not yet perceive nor understand?  Is your heart still hardened?  Having eyes, do you not see?  And having ears, do you not hear?  And do you not remember?  When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?”  They said to Him, “Twelve.”  “Also when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments did you take up?”  And they said, “Seven.”  So he said to them, “How is it you do not understand?” (Mark 8: 13 – 21.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

            Shortly after feeding four thousand people with seven loaves of bread, Jesus warned his disciples to beware of doubtful thoughts.  Despite having just witnessed God’s heavenly provision, the disciples began to fear that they had not brought enough food for their journey.  The Lord addressed their uncertainties by reminding them of his previous miracles.  On two separate occasions he had fed thousands with scarcely enough food to feed a small family.  If doubts arise within our hearts and minds, they can quickly be eradicated by recalling the many miracles God has performed for us in the past.

            In church I once heard a man give his personal testimony.  As a youth he had been hopelessly addicted to drugs and his life was unmanageable.  Eventually he received Jesus Christ as his Lord and savior.  He began reading the bible and his life proceeded to change.  However, he had not yet given up his old friends.  One day he was gathered together with them in a house while they engaged in drug use; as he sat on the couch he opened his bible and began to read.  Suddenly a group of heavily armed drug enforcement agents broke through the door and began arresting everyone.  The man was so frightened he could barely move.  He thought, ‘If I just sit here and read my bible, nothing will happen to me.’  He heard lamps falling and people yelling as they were being dragged to the ground and arrested.  As the commotion swirled around him he never took his eyes off of God’s word.  After a short time he heard the front door slam and the house was completely silent.  Looking up he realized he was all alone.  No one had tackled him; no one had arrested him; no one had even questioned him.  Sometime afterward, God told him that He had blinded the eyes of the officers so that they couldn’t see him.  This man has undoubtedly recalled this miracle on many occasions to dispel doubts and to inspire his faith.

            Even the most faithful believers can occasionally experience doubtful thoughts.  If and when doubts arise, the natural remedy is remembrance.  How often has God healed our bodies; how often has He provided for our needs and protected us from trouble?  Our faith is preserved in times of trouble by remembering the wonderful miracles God has already performed in our lives.

            “Lord Heavenly Father, increase our faithfulness.  In moments of weakness may we be reminded of the many miracles You have already performed.  Through remembrance may our doubts be destroyed and our fears be put to death.  Fill our hearts with love, and peace, and truth, that we may continually trust in You and Your Son.  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.