Tag: Jesus Speaks

The Real Jesus

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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” (Matthew 11: 2-6.)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

     Believing Jesus to be the long awaited messiah, John erred in assuming He would immediately usher in an earthly kingdom; thereby putting an end to the oppressive Roman rule. While in captivity, John had grown impatient; sending messengers to Jesus 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 needed to read the bible for myself; knowing 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 savior. 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!

Eternal Treasure

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JESUS SPEAKING

“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things. But now He is comforted and you are tormented.” (Luke 16: 19 – 25)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

Using a parable, Jesus confirms the inevitable journey of every human soul after death. There are only two potential destinations; Heaven or hell. Heaven (also known as Abraham’s Bosom prior to Christ’s resurrection.) is a place of eternal comfort, while hell is a place of everlasting torment. The central premise of this story is the rich man’s immense error. He enjoyed a carnal existence; indulging in the passing pleasures of this world without contemplating his eternal resting place. Following his selfish heart, He ignored the suffering of Lazarus at his gate, and thus incurred a life of suffering without end.

According to the bible, there once lived two brothers named Jacob and Esau. Esau was the eldest, and thus would eventually inherit most of his dad’s wealth. And yet one day Esau came in from the field and was exhausted and hungry. His younger brother Jacob was cooking some stew. Esau begged him for a meal. Jacob offered him a dish, but only in exchange for Esau’s birthright. Esau was so focused on feeding his flesh in a passing moment that he was blinded from comprehending the value of his future estate. His present hunger was all that mattered to him. And so he relinquished his right to an entire fortune in exchange for a bowl of soup.

Like that bowl of soup, this life is no more than a passing moment; especially when compared to our eternal inheritance with God in heaven. If we lose sight of that splendid destination we will begin to live according to the flesh. But if we remain committed to our Lord and Savior, then we will sacrifice our desires in the present to secure our future glory. We will therefore exhibit the virtues of selflessness, generosity, purity, kindness, mercy, and humility. Only the good things we accomplish for Christ will last forever.

“Lord Heavenly Father, may we refrain from chasing after the passing pleasures of this life. Give us the strength to embrace selflessness, and thus accomplish good works in accordance with Your will. We are but humble servants; and so as we serve, may our hearts be glad and our minds be pure. 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!

Saving Sinners

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JESUS SPEAKS

“And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matthew 9: 12 – 13)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

The Pharisees loathed sinful outcasts. And yet Jesus came to save the lost. He mingled with many of the worst sinners; performing miracles and preaching a message of repentance and salvation. Repentance is a necessary component of the gospel message; it requires an individual to abandon their sinful living and embrace a life of purity. Because God is abundantly merciful, anyone, no matter how evil, can be reborn and forgiven; and walk as a follower of Jesus Christ.

There once lived a defiant prophet named Jonah. He hated the city of Nineveh and its wicked inhabitants with a passion. And yet, God commanded him to enter this evil city and preach a message of repentance; that they might be saved from impending destruction. In anger, Jonah refused to obey; instead he traveled in the completely opposite direction. During his journey he was cast into the sea and swallowed by a great fish. After three days in the creature’s belly, he was spit up onto dry land. He finally obeyed his calling and entered Nineveh; urging them to repent of their evil ways. Surprisingly, the citizens listened and repented; thus ensuring their survival. However, when Jonah saw that the city was spared he lamented, saying, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness. One who relents from doing harm.” Jonah, like the Pharisees, did not share God’s heart.

Our God is merciful. And like Jesus and Jonah, we have been sent to preach the gospel to sinners. If we share the Lord’s heart for the lost we will reach out to those who are walking in darkness. As we are filled with the Holy Spirit, may the light of Christ shine in us and through us, that others might hear the message of repentance and be saved. What an honor to be servants of the living God.

“Lord Heavenly Father, may we reach out to those who are lost. May we love those who are living in sin, and preach the gospel to them. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and guide our actions. Speak in us and through us, that many would come to repentance and know the goodness of your forgiveness and salvation. 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!